Windows Credential Manager Vault/File Access by Uncommon Application Images

Alerts on access to Windows credential/vault files by uncommon processes based on image path and file location.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_access
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-10-11
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003OS Credential Dumping
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags access to Windows credential-related storage locations, including the Microsoft Credentials and Vault directories, by processes whose image path is not under common system folders or Explorer. Such behavior can indicate credential theft attempts where an attacker targets stored credentials. It relies on file access telemetry that records the accessed path (FileName) and the accessing process image (Image), enabling filtering of typical system and Explorer activity.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Credential Manager Vault/File Access by Uncommon Application Images

Pivot detection · T1003 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

windows-credential-manager-and-vault-access-from-unusual-process-images-407aecb1

title: Windows Credential Manager Vault/File Access by Uncommon Application Images
id: 71ed4328-452a-44a9-b838-cb8c38594a7f
status: test
description: This rule flags access to Windows credential-related storage locations, including the Microsoft Credentials and Vault directories, by processes whose image path is not under common system folders or Explorer. Such behavior can indicate credential theft attempts where an attacker targets stored credentials. It relies on file access telemetry that records the accessed path (FileName) and the accessing process image (Image), enabling filtering of typical system and Explorer activity.
references:
  - https://hunter2.gitbook.io/darthsidious/privilege-escalation/mimikatz
  - https://www.absolomb.com/2018-01-26-Windows-Privilege-Escalation-Guide/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_access/file_access_win_susp_credential_manager_access.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-10-11
modified: 2026-07-28
tags:
  - attack.t1003
  - attack.credential-access
logsource:
  category: file_access
  product: windows
  definition: "Requirements: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-File ETW provider"
detection:
  selection:
    FileName|contains:
      - \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
      - \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
      - \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Vault\
      - \ProgramData\Microsoft\Vault\
  filter_main_system_folders:
    Image|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
      - C:\Windows\system32\
      - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
  filter_main_explorer:
    Image: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate software installed by the users for example in the "AppData" directory may access these files (for any reason).
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 407aecb1-e762-4acf-8c7b-d087bcff3bb6
    type: derived

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