PowerShell Access to LSASS on Windows Suggesting Credential Dumping

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 Windows PowerShell or pwsh processes that request access to the LSASS process. Access to lsass.exe is commonly associated with credential dumping attempts, making this behavior a useful indicator for investigation. It relies on process access telemetry that records SourceImage and TargetImage relationships.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003.001 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Mimikatz Sekurlsa Logonpasswords Credential Dump

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump via ProcDump (via process_creation)

Malicious LSASS Memory Dump via comsvcs.dll by Salt Typhoon

Malicious LSASS Dump via Process Access (via process_access)

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Process (via process_creation)

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Admin Share (via security)

Malicious Task Manager Used for LSASS Dump - Kernel (via security)

PowerShell Access to LSASS on Windows Suggesting Credential Dumping

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v5

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-powershell-process-accessing-lsass-exe-for-possible-credential-dumping-0f920ebe

title: PowerShell Access to LSASS on Windows Suggesting Credential Dumping
id: 5427af29-375e-4548-835f-56ee520f2573
related:
  - id: 3f07b9d1-2082-4c56-9277-613a621983cc
    type: obsolete
  - id: fb656378-f909-47c1-8747-278bf09f4f4f
    type: similar
  - id: 0f920ebe-7aea-4c54-b202-9aa0c609cfe5
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows PowerShell or pwsh processes that request access to the LSASS process. Access to lsass.exe is commonly associated with credential dumping attempts, making this behavior a useful indicator for investigation. It relies on process access telemetry that records SourceImage and TargetImage relationships.
references:
  - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_access/proc_access_win_lsass_powershell_access.yml
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2023-11-28
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_access
detection:
  selection:
    SourceImage|endswith:
      - \powershell.exe
      - \pwsh.exe
    TargetImage|endswith: \lsass.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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