Windows HandleKatz: Duplicate LSASS Handle via Process Access with Handle Duplication Rights
Flags HandleKatz-style behavior duplicating an existing LSASS handle using PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE and ntdll.dll call trace.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_access
- Author
- Bhabesh Raj (rule), @thefLinkk (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-06-27
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → 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 identifies HandleKatz behavior where a process obtains access to lsass.exe that is consistent with duplicating an existing LSASS handle for later memory dumping. Attackers use this to capture credentials from LSASS without necessarily creating additional direct handle activity to LSASS. Detection relies on Windows process access telemetry for TargetImage, specific GrantedAccess values, and matching CallTrace patterns from ntdll.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows HandleKatz: Duplicate LSASS Handle via Process Access with Handle Duplication Rights"
id: d0b2e76a-62fe-4978-970b-406d42ffc2a9
status: test
description: This rule identifies HandleKatz behavior where a process obtains access to lsass.exe that is consistent with duplicating an existing LSASS handle for later memory dumping. Attackers use this to capture credentials from LSASS without necessarily creating additional direct handle activity to LSASS. Detection relies on Windows process access telemetry for TargetImage, specific GrantedAccess values, and matching CallTrace patterns from ntdll.
references:
- https://github.com/codewhitesec/HandleKatz
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_access/proc_access_win_hktl_handlekatz_lsass_access.yml
author: Bhabesh Raj (rule), @thefLinkk, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-27
modified: 2023-11-28
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1106
- attack.t1003.001
- attack.credential-access
logsource:
category: process_access
product: windows
detection:
selection:
TargetImage|endswith: \lsass.exe
GrantedAccess: "0x1440"
CallTrace|startswith: C:\Windows\System32\ntdll.dll+
CallTrace|contains: "|UNKNOWN("
CallTrace|endswith: )
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: b1bd3a59-c1fd-4860-9f40-4dd161a7d1f5
type: derived