Windows PowerShell Remote Thread Into lsass.exe 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 systems where a PowerShell process (powershell.exe or pwsh.exe) creates a remote thread targeting lsass.exe. Creating remote threads into lsass.exe is commonly associated with credential access techniques aimed at extracting authentication material. The detection relies on telemetry for remote thread creation events and the process image paths for both the source (PowerShell) and target (lsass.exe).

Reporting behind it

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Windows PowerShell Remote Thread Into lsass.exe Suggesting Credential Dumping

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-remote-thread-into-lsass-exe-for-potential-credential-dumping-fb656378

title: Windows PowerShell Remote Thread Into lsass.exe Suggesting Credential Dumping
id: 742a37dd-70e4-499d-87d7-a146c097a66e
related:
  - id: 3f07b9d1-2082-4c56-9277-613a621983cc
    type: obsolete
  - id: 0f920ebe-7aea-4c54-b202-9aa0c609cfe5
    type: similar
  - id: fb656378-f909-47c1-8747-278bf09f4f4f
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows systems where a PowerShell process (powershell.exe or pwsh.exe) creates a remote thread targeting lsass.exe. Creating remote threads into lsass.exe is commonly associated with credential access techniques aimed at extracting authentication material. The detection relies on telemetry for remote thread creation events and the process image paths for both the source (PowerShell) and target (lsass.exe).
references:
  - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/create_remote_thread/create_remote_thread_win_powershell_lsass.yml
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-12-18
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: create_remote_thread
detection:
  selection:
    SourceImage|endswith:
      - \powershell.exe
      - \pwsh.exe
    TargetImage|endswith: \lsass.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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