T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access

Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials. Exploitation of a software vulnerability occurs when an adversary takes advantage of a programming error in a program, service, or within the operating system software or kernel itself to execute adversary-controlled code. 

Credentialing and authentication mechanisms may be targeted for exploitation by adversaries as a means to gain access to useful credentials or circumvent the process to gain authenticated access to systems. One example of this is MS14-068, which targets Kerberos and can be used to forge Kerberos tickets using domain user permissions.(Citation: Technet MS14-068)(Citation: ADSecurity Detecting Forged Tickets) Another example of this is replay attacks, in which the adversary intercepts data packets sent between parties and then later replays these packets. If services don't properly validate authentication requests, these replayed packets may allow an adversary to impersonate one of the parties and gain unauthorized access or privileges.(Citation: Bugcrowd Replay Attack)(Citation: Comparitech Replay Attack)(Citation: Microsoft Midnight Blizzard Replay Attack)

Such exploitation has been demonstrated in cloud environments as well. For example, adversaries have exploited vulnerabilities in public cloud infrastructure that allowed for unintended authentication token creation and renewal.(Citation: Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorized email access)

Exploitation for credential access may also result in Privilege Escalation depending on the process targeted or credentials obtained.

View in MITRE ATT&CK®

VERIS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
action.hacking.variety.Exploit misconfig Exploit a misconfiguration (vs vuln or weakness) related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
action.hacking.variety.Exploit vuln Exploit vulnerability in code (vs misconfig or weakness). This can be used with other hacking enumerations, (such as XSS when an XSS vuln exists.). Parent of many hacking varieties. related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
action.hacking.variety.Session fixation Session fixation. Child of 'Exploit vuln'. related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
action.malware.variety.Disable controls Disable or interfere with security controls related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
action.malware.variety.Password dumper Password dumper (extract credential hashes) related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
action.malware.vector.Web application - drive-by Web via auto-executed or "drive-by" infection. Child of 'Web application'. related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
attribute.confidentiality.data_disclosure Confirmed or potential data disclosure related-to T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access

GCP Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
artifact_analysis Artifact Analysis technique_scores T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
Comments
Artifact Analysis performs vulnerability scans on artifacts in Artifact Registry or Container Registry (deprecated). When Artifact Analysis is deployed, it can detect known vulnerabilities in various OS packages that could be used to escalate privileges and execute adversary-controlled code (e.g., Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine, RHEL, CentOS, National Vulnerability Database). Due to the medium threat detection coverage and temporal factor, the control was scored as partial.
References
confidential_vm Confidential VM technique_scores T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
Comments
Confidential VM main memory encryption is performed using dedicated hardware within the memory controllers. Confidential VM generates encryption keys in dedicated hardware which is inaccessible to the hypervisor, protecting against Exploitation for Credential Access from outside the VM.
References
google_secops Google Security Operations technique_scores T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
Comments
Google Security Ops triggers alerts based on credential exploit attempts (e.g., read /dev/cmdb/sslvpn_websession file, this file contains login and passwords in (clear-text)). 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/proactive_exploit_detection/webserver/cve_2018_13379_fortigate_ssl_vpn_arbitrary_file_reading.yaral
References
policy_intelligence Policy Intelligence technique_scores T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
Comments
Policy Intelligence role recommendations generated by IAM Recommender help admins remove unwanted access to GCP resources by using machine learning to make smart access control recommendations. With Recommender, security teams can automatically detect overly permissive access and rightsize them based on similar users in the organization and their access patterns. This control may mitigate adversaries that try to perform privilege escalation via permission levels and software exploitation.
References
vm_manager VM Manager technique_scores T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access
Comments
VM Manager can apply on-demand and scheduled patches via automated patch deployment. This can remediate OS and software vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited. Since VM Manager doesn't directly prevent exploitation of active vulnerabilities (including zero day vulnerabilities) this control has resulted in a score of Partial.
References