huntrule

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

Flags registry writes that enable WDigest UseLogonCredential, turning on potential clear-text credential storage.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2019-09-12
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

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.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Disabling of Restricted Admin Mode via Registry (via registry_set)
Malicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enabled for Cleartext Credential Theft (via registry_set)
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Windows Registry: Enable WDigest UseLogonCredential (Use clear-text logon credential setting)
Pivot detection · T1112 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.