Malicious Wdigest Authentication Enabled - Reg via Command (via process_creation)
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-09-03
- Updated
- 2026-09-03
ATT&CK techniques
Cred AccessRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects enable Wdgiest authention so passwords are stored in clear text and can be dumped.
Reporting behind it
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/
- thedfirreport.comhttps://thedfirreport.com/2021/08/16/trickbot-leads-up-to-fake-1password-installation/
- ired.teamhttps://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/forcing-wdigest-to-store-credentials-in-plaintext
- hackingarticles.inhttps://www.hackingarticles.in/credential-dumping-wdigest/
- stealthbits.comhttps://stealthbits.com/blog/wdigest-clear-text-passwords-stealing-more-than-a-hash/
- github.comhttps://github.com/HarmJ0y/Misc-PowerShell/blob/master/Invoke-WdigestDowngrade.ps1
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/10/18/defenders-beware-a-case-for-post-ransomware-investigations/
- sentinelone.comhttps://www.sentinelone.com/blog/how-attackers-exploit-security-support-provider-ssp-for-credential-dumping/
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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