T1003: Credential Dumping Mitigation
### Windows Monitor/harden access to LSASS and SAM table with tools that allow process whitelisting. Limit credential overlap across systems to prevent lateral movement opportunities using Valid Accounts if passwords and hashes are obtained. Ensure that local administrator accounts have complex, unique passwords across all systems on the network. Do not put user or admin domain accounts in the local administrator groups across systems unless they are tightly controlled, as this is often equivalent to having a local administrator account with the same password on all systems. Follow best practices for design and administration of an enterprise network to limit privileged account use across administrative tiers. [1]
On Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, enable Protected Process Light for LSA. [2]
Identify and block potentially malicious software that may be used to dump credentials by using whitelisting [3] tools, like AppLocker, [4] [5] or Software Restriction Policies [6] where appropriate. [7]
With Windows 10, Microsoft implemented new protections called Credential Guard to protect the LSA secrets that can be used to obtain credentials through forms of credential dumping. It is not configured by default and has hardware and firmware system requirements. [8] It also does not protect against all forms of credential dumping. [9]
Manage the access control list for “Replicating Directory Changes” and other permissions associated with domain controller replication. [10] [11]
Consider disabling or restricting NTLM traffic. [12]
### Linux Scraping the passwords from memory requires root privileges. Follow best practices in restricting access to escalated privileges to avoid hostile programs from accessing such sensitive regions of memory.
This ATT&CK object is revoked or deprecated in the current MITRE ATT&CK release.
It remains available for historical context and inbound links. Use current ATT&CK relationships and replacement guidance before basing detection or reporting work on this page.
Automated summary not available
Glexia publishes ATT&CK takes only after source-hash and schema validation. Until then, use the official MITRE definition below and the defensive relationship context on this page.
Credential Dumping Mitigation
### Windows Monitor/harden access to LSASS and SAM table with tools that allow process whitelisting. Limit credential overlap across systems to prevent lateral movement opportunities using Valid Accounts if passwords and hashes are obtained. Ensure that local administrator accounts have complex, unique passwords across all systems on the network. Do not put user or admin domain accounts in the local administrator groups across systems unless they are tightly controlled, as this is often equivalent to having a local administrator account with the same password on all systems. Follow best practices for design and administration of an enterprise network to limit privileged account use across administrative tiers. [1]
On Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, enable Protected Process Light for LSA. [2]
Identify and block potentially malicious software that may be used to dump credentials by using whitelisting [3] tools, like AppLocker, [4] [5] or Software Restriction Policies [6] where appropriate. [7]
With Windows 10, Microsoft implemented new protections called Credential Guard to protect the LSA secrets that can be used to obtain credentials through forms of credential dumping. It is not configured by default and has hardware and firmware system requirements. [8] It also does not protect against all forms of credential dumping. [9]
Manage the access control list for “Replicating Directory Changes” and other permissions associated with domain controller replication. [10] [11]
Consider disabling or restricting NTLM traffic. [12]
### Linux Scraping the passwords from memory requires root privileges. Follow best practices in restricting access to escalated privileges to avoid hostile programs from accessing such sensitive regions of memory.
How security teams should use this page
Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.
All related ATT&CK context
No relationships are available in the current normalized data for this object.
Object version and sync metadata
The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(1)
| Release | Bundle imported | Object version | Modified | Status | Raw hash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | 1.0 | Current bundleDeprecated | b6d6ede881f2… |
Mirrored ATT&CK source object
The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.
External references and citations
MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.
- [1]Microsoft Securing Privileged Access
Plett, C., Poggemeyer, L. (12, October 26). Securing Privileged Access Reference Material. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [2]Microsoft LSA
Microsoft. (2013, July 31). Configuring Additional LSA Protection. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
Open source URL - [3]Beechey 2010
Beechey, J. (2010, December). Application Whitelisting: Panacea or Propaganda?. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [4]Windows Commands JPCERT
Tomonaga, S. (2016, January 26). Windows Commands Abused by Attackers. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
Open source URL - [5]NSA MS AppLocker
NSA Information Assurance Directorate. (2014, August). Application Whitelisting Using Microsoft AppLocker. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
Open source URL - [6]Corio 2008
Corio, C., & Sayana, D. P. (2008, June). Application Lockdown with Software Restriction Policies. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [7]TechNet Applocker vs SRP
Microsoft. (2012, June 27). Using Software Restriction Policies and AppLocker Policies. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
Open source URL - [8]TechNet Credential Guard
Lich, B. (2016, May 31). Protect derived domain credentials with Credential Guard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
Open source URL - [9]GitHub SHB Credential Guard
NSA IAD. (2017, April 20). Secure Host Baseline - Credential Guard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [10]AdSecurity DCSync Sept 2015
Metcalf, S. (2015, September 25). Mimikatz DCSync Usage, Exploitation, and Detection. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [11]Microsoft Replication ACL
Microsoft. (n.d.). How to grant the "Replicating Directory Changes" permission for the Microsoft Metadirectory Services ADMA service account. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [12]Microsoft Disable NTLM Nov 2012
Microsoft. (2012, November 29). Using security policies to restrict NTLM traffic. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [13]AdSecurity DCSync Sept 2015
Metcalf, S. (2015, September 25). Mimikatz DCSync Usage, Exploitation, and Detection. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [14]AdSecurity DCSync Sept 2015
Metcalf, S. (2015, September 25). Mimikatz DCSync Usage, Exploitation, and Detection. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [15]Beechey 2010
Beechey, J. (2010, December). Application Whitelisting: Panacea or Propaganda?. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [16]Beechey 2010
Beechey, J. (2010, December). Application Whitelisting: Panacea or Propaganda?. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [17]Corio 2008
Corio, C., & Sayana, D. P. (2008, June). Application Lockdown with Software Restriction Policies. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [18]Corio 2008
Corio, C., & Sayana, D. P. (2008, June). Application Lockdown with Software Restriction Policies. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- [19]GitHub SHB Credential Guard
NSA IAD. (2017, April 20). Secure Host Baseline - Credential Guard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [20]GitHub SHB Credential Guard
NSA IAD. (2017, April 20). Secure Host Baseline - Credential Guard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [21]Microsoft Disable NTLM Nov 2012
Microsoft. (2012, November 29). Using security policies to restrict NTLM traffic. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [22]Microsoft Disable NTLM Nov 2012
Microsoft. (2012, November 29). Using security policies to restrict NTLM traffic. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [23]Microsoft LSA
Microsoft. (2013, July 31). Configuring Additional LSA Protection. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
Open source URL - [24]Microsoft LSA
Microsoft. (2013, July 31). Configuring Additional LSA Protection. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
Open source URL - [25]Microsoft Replication ACL
Microsoft. (n.d.). How to grant the "Replicating Directory Changes" permission for the Microsoft Metadirectory Services ADMA service account. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [26]Microsoft Replication ACL
Microsoft. (n.d.). How to grant the "Replicating Directory Changes" permission for the Microsoft Metadirectory Services ADMA service account. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
Open source URL - [27]Microsoft Securing Privileged Access
Plett, C., Poggemeyer, L. (12, October 26). Securing Privileged Access Reference Material. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [28]Microsoft Securing Privileged Access
Plett, C., Poggemeyer, L. (12, October 26). Securing Privileged Access Reference Material. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Open source URL - [29]NSA MS AppLocker
NSA Information Assurance Directorate. (2014, August). Application Whitelisting Using Microsoft AppLocker. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
Open source URL - [30]NSA MS AppLocker
NSA Information Assurance Directorate. (2014, August). Application Whitelisting Using Microsoft AppLocker. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
Open source URL - [31]TechNet Applocker vs SRP
Microsoft. (2012, June 27). Using Software Restriction Policies and AppLocker Policies. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
Open source URL - [32]TechNet Applocker vs SRP
Microsoft. (2012, June 27). Using Software Restriction Policies and AppLocker Policies. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
Open source URL - [33]TechNet Credential Guard
Lich, B. (2016, May 31). Protect derived domain credentials with Credential Guard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
Open source URL - [34]TechNet Credential Guard
Lich, B. (2016, May 31). Protect derived domain credentials with Credential Guard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
Open source URL - [35]Windows Commands JPCERT
Tomonaga, S. (2016, January 26). Windows Commands Abused by Attackers. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
Open source URL - [36]Windows Commands JPCERT
Tomonaga, S. (2016, January 26). Windows Commands Abused by Attackers. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
Open source URL - [37]mitre-attackT1003Open source URL
- [38]mitre-attackT1003Open source URL
- [39]mitre-attackT1003Open source URL
Source: MITRE ATT&CK®. © 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. Glexia is not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE.