T1212 Exploitation For Credential Access

---
name: "T1212_exploitation-for-credential-access"
description: "Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials."
category: "authentication"
version: "18.1"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - mitre-attack
  - enterprise
  - t1212
  - credential-access
  - linux
  - windows
  - macos
  - identity-provider
technique_id: "T1212"
tactic: "credential-access"
all_tactics:
  - credential-access
platforms:
  - Linux
  - Windows
  - macOS
  - Identity Provider
mitre_url: "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1212"
tech_stack:
  - linux
  - windows
  - macos
  - identity
cwe_ids:
  - CWE-522
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access

## High-Level Description

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. 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.

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.

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

## Kill Chain Phase

- Credential Access (TA0006)

**Platforms:** Linux, Windows, macOS, Identity Provider

## What to Check

- [ ] Identify if Exploitation for Credential Access technique is applicable to target environment
- [ ] Check Linux systems for indicators of Exploitation for Credential Access
- [ ] Check Windows systems for indicators of Exploitation for Credential Access
- [ ] Check macOS systems for indicators of Exploitation for Credential Access
- [ ] Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (5 known mitigations)
- [ ] Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

## How to Test

### Manual Testing

1. **Identify Attack Surface**: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Exploitation for Credential Access by examining the target platforms (Linux, Windows, macOS).

2. **Assess Existing Defenses**: Review whether mitigations for T1212 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.

3. **Execute Test**: Use tools and methods described in the MITRE ATT&CK page and external references below.

> **Note**: No Atomic Red Team tests available for this technique. See [Atomic Red Team GitHub](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team) for updates.

## Remediation Guide

### M1050 Exploit Protection

Security applications that look for behavior used during exploitation such as Windows Defender Exploit Guard (WDEG) and the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) can be used to mitigate some exploitation behavior. Control flow integrity checking is another way to potentially identify and stop a software exploit from occurring. Many of these protections depend on the architecture and target application binary for compatibility and may not work for software targeted for defense evasion.

### M1051 Update Software

Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.

### M1013 Application Developer Guidance

Application developers should consider taking measures to validate authentication requests by enabling one-time passwords, providing timestamps or sequence numbers for messages sent, using digital signatures, and/or using random session keys.

### M1019 Threat Intelligence Program

Develop a robust cyber threat intelligence capability to determine what types and levels of threat may use software exploits and 0-days against a particular organization.

### M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing

Make it difficult for adversaries to advance their operation through exploitation of undiscovered or unpatched vulnerabilities by using sandboxing. Other types of virtualization and application microsegmentation may also mitigate the impact of some types of exploitation. Risks of additional exploits and weaknesses in these systems may still exist.

## Detection

### Detection Strategy for Exploitation for Credential Access

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                                 | Severity | Impact            |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ----------------- |
| Exploitation for Credential Access technique applicable | High     | Credential Access |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID  | Title                                |
| ------- | ------------------------------------ |
| CWE-522 | Insufficiently Protected Credentials |

## References

- [Bugcrowd Replay Attack](https://www.bugcrowd.com/glossary/replay-attack/)
- [Comparitech Replay Attack](https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/what-is-a-replay-attack/)
- [ADSecurity Detecting Forged Tickets](https://adsecurity.org/?p=1515)
- [Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorized email access](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/07/14/analysis-of-storm-0558-techniques-for-unauthorized-email-access/)
- [Microsoft Midnight Blizzard Replay Attack](https://x.com/MsftSecIntel/status/1671579359994343425)
- [Technet MS14-068](https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms14-068.aspx)
- [Atomic Red Team - T1212](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/tree/master/atomics/T1212)
- [MITRE ATT&CK - T1212](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1212)