Adversaries may patch the authentication process on a domain controller to bypass the typical authentication mechanisms and enable access to accounts.
Malware may be used to inject false credentials into the authentication process on a domain controller with the intent of creating a backdoor used to access any user’s account and/or credentials (ex: Skeleton Key). Skeleton key works through a patch on an enterprise domain controller authentication process (LSASS) with credentials that adversaries may use to bypass the standard authentication system. Once patched, an adversary can use the injected password to successfully authenticate as any domain user account (until the the skeleton key is erased from memory by a reboot of the domain controller). Authenticated access may enable unfettered access to hosts and/or resources within single-factor authentication environments.(Citation: Dell Skeleton)
View in MITRE ATT&CK®Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
microsoft_defender_for_identity | Microsoft Defender for Identity | technique_scores | T1556.001 | Domain Controller Authentication |
Comments
This control's "Suspected skeleton key attack (encryption downgrade) (external ID 2010)" alert can detect skeleton attacks. This alert provides partial protection as it detects on a specific type of malware, Skeleton malware, and its usage of weaker encryption algorithms to hash the user's passwords on the domain controller. The description of the alert implies it utilizes machine learning to look for anomalous usage of weak encryption algorithms which should result in a reduced false positive rate.
References
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