Windows Security: Detect LSASS handle access for SAM_DOMAIN (0x705)

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003.001LSASS Memory
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows Security Event ID 4656 events where a process requests a specific access mask (0x705) to the LSASS process and targets the SAM_DOMAIN object type. Such handle access can indicate attempts to access credential material from LSASS, which attackers commonly leverage during credential dumping. The detection relies on audit telemetry for process handle creation (Event 4656) including the target process name, object type, and access mask.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003.001 — drag to rearrange

Malicious WDigest Credential Caching Enabled via Registry (via registry_set)

Malicious Credential Dumping via Mimikatz Sekurlsa Command

Malicious Mimikatz Sekurlsa Logonpasswords Credential Dump

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump via ProcDump (via process_creation)

Malicious LSASS Memory Dump via comsvcs.dll by Salt Typhoon

Malicious LSASS Dump via Process Access (via process_access)

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Process (via process_creation)

Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Admin Share (via security)

Malicious Task Manager Used for LSASS Dump - Kernel (via security)

Windows Security: Detect LSASS handle access for SAM_DOMAIN (0x705)

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-security-password-dumping-via-lsass-handle-access-sam-domain-aa1697b7

title: "Windows Security: Detect LSASS handle access for SAM_DOMAIN (0x705)"
id: e702c0bf-67bd-409c-9681-8b5a6bab939b
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows Security Event ID 4656 events where a process requests a specific access mask (0x705) to the LSASS process and targets the SAM_DOMAIN object type. Such handle access can indicate attempts to access credential material from LSASS, which attackers commonly leverage during credential dumping. The detection relies on audit telemetry for process handle creation (Event 4656) including the target process name, object type, and access mask.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/jackcr/status/807385668833968128
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_susp_lsass_dump.yml
author: sigma, Huntrule Team
date: 2017-02-12
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
detection:
  selection:
    EventID: 4656
    ProcessName|endswith: \lsass.exe
    AccessMask: "0x705"
    ObjectType: SAM_DOMAIN
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: aa1697b7-d611-4f9a-9cb2-5125b4ccfd5c
    type: derived

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