Windows Process Execution of HandleKatz LSASS Dumper (loader.exe)

Flags HandleKatz-style loader.exe executions that dump LSASS into obfuscated .obf files using --pid and --outfile.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-18
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003.001LSASS Memory
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags execution of the HandleKatz loader used to dump LSASS memory into obfuscated files. Attackers use this behavior to obtain credential material by collecting LSASS contents in a way designed to hinder straightforward analysis. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the loader image name, specific command-line arguments (e.g., pid, outfile, .dmp/.obf), and known loader IMPHASH values.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Execution of HandleKatz LSASS Dumper (loader.exe)

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 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-handlekatz-lsass-dump-execution-via-loader-exe-and-obfuscated-obf-output-ca621ba5

title: Windows Process Execution of HandleKatz LSASS Dumper (loader.exe)
id: cca2addb-693b-44d6-b028-3a6839852a6c
status: test
description: This rule flags execution of the HandleKatz loader used to dump LSASS memory into obfuscated files. Attackers use this behavior to obtain credential material by collecting LSASS contents in a way designed to hinder straightforward analysis. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the loader image name, specific command-line arguments (e.g., pid, outfile, .dmp/.obf), and known loader IMPHASH values.
references:
  - https://github.com/codewhitesec/HandleKatz
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_handlekatz.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-18
modified: 2024-11-23
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_loader_img:
    Image|endswith: \loader.exe
    CommandLine|contains: "--pid:"
  selection_loader_imphash:
    Hashes|contains:
      - IMPHASH=38D9E015591BBFD4929E0D0F47FA0055
      - IMPHASH=0E2216679CA6E1094D63322E3412D650
  selection_flags:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - "--pid:"
      - "--outfile:"
    CommandLine|contains:
      - .dmp
      - lsass
      - .obf
      - dump
  condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: ca621ba5-54ab-4035-9942-d378e6fcde3c
    type: derived

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