Windows Task Manager Creating lsass.dmp in Temp

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 file creation events where taskmgr.exe writes a dump file containing the strings lsass and .DMP under AppData\Local\Temp. Attackers commonly dump LSASS process memory to obtain credential material, and doing so via Task Manager can evade less visible tools. Telemetry relies on Windows file event logs capturing the creating process path and the target filename/path.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Task Manager Creating lsass.dmp in Temp

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-taskmgr-exe-creating-lsass-dmp-in-temp-directory-69ca12af

title: Windows Task Manager Creating lsass.dmp in Temp
id: 3172217d-cb45-4572-a81a-27e61096cc28
status: test
description: This rule flags file creation events where taskmgr.exe writes a dump file containing the strings lsass and .DMP under AppData\Local\Temp. Attackers commonly dump LSASS process memory to obtain credential material, and doing so via Task Manager can evade less visible tools. Telemetry relies on Windows file event logs capturing the creating process path and the target filename/path.
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-10-19
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/987e3ca988ae3cff4b9f6e388c139c05bf44bbb8/atomics/T1003.001/T1003.001.md#L1
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_taskmgr_lsass_dump.yml
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      - :\Windows\system32\taskmgr.exe
      - :\Windows\SysWOW64\taskmgr.exe
    TargetFilename|contains|all:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp\
      - \lsass
      - .DMP
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Rare case of troubleshooting by an administrator or support that has to be investigated regardless
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_taskmgr_lsass_dump/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 69ca12af-119d-44ed-b50f-a47af0ebc364
    type: derived

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