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

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
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

Related detections9 linkedT1112 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious PebbleDash C2 Configuration Stored Under WMI Security Key (via registry_set)

Suspicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enablement for Plaintext Credential Theft (via registry_set)

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.

windows-registry-enable-wdigest-uselogoncredential-use-clear-text-logon-credenti-d6a9b252

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

Convert

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

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