Windows Process Creation: Suspicious CLI NetworkProvider Addition for Credential Dumping

Alerts on Windows CLI executions that reference services\... and NetworkProvider, a pattern consistent with credential dumping via provider changes.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-23
Updated: 2026-07-30

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003OS Credential Dumping
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events whose command line contains both the service registry path and the string for NetworkProvider, indicating an attempt to add a new network provider via CLI. Attackers may use network provider changes to capture or expose credentials in clear text, aligning with credential-access objectives. It relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the command line content associated with the spawned process.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003 — drag to rearrange

Malicious NTDS Credential Dump via Ntdsutil IFM Snapshot (via process_creation)

Suspicious Mimilite Credential Dumper Execution Writing KB-Named Output

Malicious InternalMonologue NTLM Downgrade Execution via process_creation

Suspicious Modification of msDS-KeyCredentialLink for Shadow Credential Abuse

Possible OxideHarvest Stealer Execution via Combined Short Flag Set

Suspicious Credential Dump Attempt via Task Manager (via process_creation)

Suspicious Ivanti EPMM Database Dump via mysqldump with .mifpp Credentials (via process_creation)

Suspicious Credential Dump via lsa.exe Debug Output

Malicious Wdigest Authentication Enabled - Reg via Command (via process_creation)

Windows Process Creation: Suspicious CLI NetworkProvider Addition for Credential Dumping

Pivot detection · T1003 · 9 related

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-suspicious-cli-networkprovider-addition-for-credential--baef1ec6

title: "Windows Process Creation: Suspicious CLI NetworkProvider Addition for Credential Dumping"
id: ad3f03fd-8dab-4b88-bd06-8721415d0380
related:
  - id: 0442defa-b4a2-41c9-ae2c-ea7042fc4701
    type: similar
  - id: baef1ec6-2ca9-47a3-97cc-4cf2bda10b77
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process creation events whose command line contains both the service registry path and the string for NetworkProvider, indicating an attempt to add a new network provider via CLI. Attackers may use network provider changes to capture or expose credentials in clear text, aligning with credential-access objectives. It relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the command line content associated with the spawned process.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/setup-upgrade-and-drivers/network-provider-settings-removed-in-place-upgrade
  - https://github.com/gtworek/PSBits/tree/master/PasswordStealing/NPPSpy
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_registry_new_network_provider.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-23
modified: 2023-02-02
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
      - \NetworkProvider
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Other legitimate network providers used and not filtred in this rule
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL