Adversaries may register malicious network provider dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to capture cleartext user credentials during the authentication process. Network provider DLLs allow Windows to interface with specific network protocols and can also support add-on credential management functions.(Citation: Network Provider API) During the logon process, Winlogon (the interactive logon module) sends credentials to the local mpnotify.exe process via RPC. The mpnotify.exe process then shares the credentials in cleartext with registered credential managers when notifying that a logon event is happening.(Citation: NPPSPY - Huntress)(Citation: NPPSPY Video)(Citation: NPLogonNotify)
Adversaries can configure a malicious network provider DLL to receive credentials from mpnotify.exe.(Citation: NPPSPY) Once installed as a credential manager (via the Registry), a malicious DLL can receive and save credentials each time a user logs onto a Windows workstation or domain via the NPLogonNotify() function.(Citation: NPLogonNotify)
Adversaries may target planting malicious network provider DLLs on systems known to have increased logon activity and/or administrator logon activity, such as servers and domain controllers.(Citation: NPPSPY - Huntress)
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR.PS-01.01 | Configuration baselines | Mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
Comments
This diagnostic statement provides for securely configuring production systems. This includes hardening default configurations and making security-focused setting adjustments to reduce the attack surface, enforce best practices, and protect sensitive data thereby mitigating adversary exploitation.
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| PR.PS-01.02 | Least functionality | Mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
Comments
This diagnostic statement provides for limiting unnecessary software, services, ports, protocols, etc. Ensuring systems only have installed and enabled what is essential for their operation reduces the attack surface and minimizes vulnerabilities, which mitigates a wide range of techniques.
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| PR.PS-01.03 | Configuration deviation | Mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
Comments
This diagnostic statement provides protection from Modify Authentication Process: Network Provider DLL through the implementation of security configuration baselines for OS, software, file integrity monitoring and imaging. Security baseline configuration of the Operating System (including only allowing valid DLLs, secure policies) and integrity checking can help protect against adversaries attempting to compromise and modify software and its configurations.
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| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CM-06 | Configuration Settings | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| CM-05 | Access Restrictions for Change | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| SI-07 | Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| CM-02 | Baseline Configuration | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| CM-07 | Least Functionality | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| SI-04 | System Monitoring | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| AC-06 | Least Privilege | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| AC-03 | Access Enforcement | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| CM-03 | Configuration Change Control | mitigates | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| attribute.integrity.variety.Modify configuration | Modified configuration or services | related-to | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL | |
| attribute.integrity.variety.Modify privileges | Modified privileges or permissions | related-to | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| file_integrity_monitoring | Microsoft Defender for Cloud: File Integrity Monitoring | technique_scores | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
Comments
This control can monitor for creation or changes to registry keys associated with network provider DLL such as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
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| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| advanced_protection_program | Advanced Protection Program | technique_scores | T1556.008 | Network Provider DLL |
Comments
Advanced Protection Program enables the use of a security key for multi-factor authentication. Even in the event of compromised credentials, the lack of a security key would prevent an adversary from accessing the account. This leads to significant protection against the technique.
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