1. Home
  2. ATT&CK Techniques
  3. T1056.004 Credential API Hooking

T1056.004 Credential API Hooking

Adversaries may hook into Windows application programming interface (API) functions to collect user credentials. Malicious hooking mechanisms may capture API calls that include parameters that reveal user authentication credentials.(Citation: Microsoft TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.gen!I Sept 2017) Unlike Keylogging, this technique focuses specifically on API functions that include parameters that reveal user credentials. Hooking involves redirecting calls to these functions and can be implemented via:

  • Hooks procedures, which intercept and execute designated code in response to events such as messages, keystrokes, and mouse inputs.(Citation: Microsoft Hook Overview)(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
  • Import address table (IAT) hooking, which use modifications to a process’s IAT, where pointers to imported API functions are stored.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: Adlice Software IAT Hooks Oct 2014)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
  • Inline hooking, which overwrites the first bytes in an API function to redirect code flow.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: HighTech Bridge Inline Hooking Sept 2011)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
View in MITRE ATT&CK®

VERIS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
attribute.confidentiality.data_disclosure None related-to T1056.004 Credential API Hooking

Azure Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
microsoft_sentinel Microsoft Sentinel technique_scores T1056.004 Credential API Hooking
Comments
The Microsoft Sentinel Analytics "Powershell Empire cmdlets seen in command line" query can detect the use of Empire, which includes keylogging capabilities for both Windows and Linux and contains modules that leverage API hooking to carry out tasks, but does not address other procedures.
References
  1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sentinel/overview
  2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sentinel/hunting

GCP Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
google_secops Google Security Operations technique_scores T1056.004 Credential API Hooking
Comments
Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on adversary methods of obtaining credentials or collecting information (e.g., web skimming attacks). This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor. https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/soc_prime_rules/cloud_security/proxy/the_gocgle_malicious_campaign.yaral
References
  1. ['https://cloud.google.com/security/products/security-operations'
  2. 'https://cloud.google.com/chronicle/docs/secops/secops-overview'
  3. 'https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules']