Windows esentutl Usage with /p Flag for Credential Access

Flags Windows executions of esentutl when used with the /p parameter to access credentials-related files.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: sam0x90 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-08-06
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
- T1003.003NTDS
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule matches process creation events where the command line contains both "esentutl" and the "/p" flag, indicating potential use of esentutl to access data consistent with credential theft workflows. Attackers may use esentutl to work with Windows database or directory artifacts after obtaining a dump, helping them extract sensitive information. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation logs with full command-line details.

Reporting behind it

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Windows esentutl Usage with /p Flag for Credential Access

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-process-creation-esentutl-access-with-p-for-ntds-credentials-files-7df1713a

title: Windows esentutl Usage with /p Flag for Credential Access
id: c388d0a4-4e8c-48d1-8b81-5c90a98af87b
status: test
description: This rule matches process creation events where the command line contains both "esentutl" and the "/p" flag, indicating potential use of esentutl to access data consistent with credential theft workflows. Attackers may use esentutl to work with Windows database or directory artifacts after obtaining a dump, helping them extract sensitive information. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation logs with full command-line details.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/vxunderground/status/1423336151860002816
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/08/01/bazarcall-to-conti-ransomware-via-trickbot-and-cobalt-strike/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_esentutl_params.yml
author: sam0x90, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-06
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003
  - attack.t1003.003
  - attack.s0404
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - esentutl
      - " /p"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - To be determined
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 7df1713a-1a5b-4a4b-a071-dc83b144a101
    type: derived

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