VaultCmd Usage for Listing Windows Credentials

Attackers may abuse the Windows Credential Manager to list or dump credentials stored within. This allows for the exfiltration of saved usernames and passwords. The tool vaultcmd.exe can be used to interact with the Credential Manager and list the stored credentials. This activity is often performed in preparation for lateral movement within a compromised network. This detection focuses on identifying instances where vaultcmd.exe is executed with the /list* argument, indicating an attempt to enumerate stored credentials. The detection rule is designed to identify abuse of vaultcmd for credential access, enabling defenders to detect unauthorized credential access activities.

Attack Chain

1. An attacker gains initial access to a Windows system through various means (e.g., phishing, exploitation of a vulnerability).
2. The attacker executes vaultcmd.exe with the /list argument to enumerate the credentials stored in the Windows Credential Manager.
3. The vaultcmd.exe process accesses the Credential Manager to retrieve the list of saved credentials.
4. The output of vaultcmd.exe (the list of credentials) is captured or redirected to a file for later exfiltration.
5. The attacker parses the output to identify valuable credentials, such as domain administrator accounts or service accounts.
6. The attacker uses the acquired credentials to authenticate to other systems on the network (lateral movement).
7. The attacker elevates privileges on the target systems.
8. The final objective is achieved, such as data theft or ransomware deployment.

Impact

Successful execution of this attack chain can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive resources, lateral movement within the network, and ultimately, data theft, system compromise, or ransomware deployment. A compromised user account can grant the attacker access to internal systems, confidential data, and critical infrastructure. If the attacker gains domain administrator credentials, they can compromise the entire Windows domain.

Recommendation

• Monitor process execution events for instances of vaultcmd.exe being executed with the /list* argument (Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs, Sysmon, Microsoft Defender XDR, SentinelOne, Crowdstrike).
• Deploy the Sigma rule “Detect VaultCmd Credential Listing” to your SIEM to identify potential credential access attempts.
• Investigate any identified instances of vaultcmd.exe being executed with the /list* argument to determine the legitimacy of the activity.
• Review and update endpoint protection configurations to ensure that similar threats are detected and blocked in the future.