Windows Registry: Enable WDigest UseLogonCredential (Use clear-text logon credential setting)

title: "Windows Registry: Enable WDigest UseLogonCredential (Use clear-text logon credential setting)"
id: 63e65f68-f52d-451f-b989-541be69a63c8
status: test
description: This rule identifies registry modifications that set the WDigest UseLogonCredential value to DWORD 0x00000001 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\WDigest. Enabling this setting can allow logon credentials to be stored in a form that increases exposure to credential theft. The detection relies on telemetry indicating registry value writes for the targeted registry path and expected DWORD data.
references:
  - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190510-RegModWDigestDowngrade/notebook.html
  - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/microsoft-security-advisory-update-to-improve-credentials-protection-and-management-may-13-2014-93434251-04ac-b7f3-52aa-9f951c14b649
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/73fcfa1d4863f6a4e17f90e54401de6e30a312bb/atomics/T1112/T1112.md#atomic-test-3---modify-registry-to-store-logon-credentials
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_wdigest_enable_uselogoncredential.yml
author: Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research), Huntrule Team
date: 2019-09-12
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1112
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: WDigest\UseLogonCredential
    Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: d6a9b252-c666-4de6-8806-5561bbbd3bdc
    type: derived