Suspicious Non-Browser Access to Chromium Credential Stores

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-20
Updated
2026-09-20

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a process that is not a web browser touching the Local State and Login Data files inside a Chromium User Data directory. The ShadowCoil packed Python stealer read Chrome and Edge Local State (the encrypted master key) and Login Data SQLite databases and used DPAPI CryptUnprotectData to recover saved credentials. Attackers harvest browser-stored passwords to enable follow-on account takeover and ransomware operations.

Related detections9 linkedT1555.003 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Chrome Launch with Remote Debugging for Credential Theft
Suspicious Access To Chrome Elevation Service COM Object via Katz Stealer
Suspicious Chrome Launched With Remote Debugging Port For Cookie Theft
Suspicious Data Exfiltration Channel to Telegram or Discord via dns_query
Suspicious Named Pipe ChromeDecryptIPC Used by Stealer (via pipe_created)
Suspicious Clipboard Data Access via Get-Clipboard (BeaverTail OtterCookie)
Malicious Edge Credential Parser Execution via PowerShell (via process_creation)
SapphireStealer Working Directory File Drop in Temp
Malicious RemusStealer Credential Exfiltration to pics TLD C2
Suspicious Non-Browser Access to Chromium Credential Stores
Pivot detection · T1555.003 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.