Windows WerFault LSASS Memory Dump File Creation

Flags WerFault dump creation where the dump filename suggests it contains LSASS memory.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-27
Updated: 2026-07-31

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 identifies executions of WerFault.exe that create dump files whose names contain references to lsass or lsass.exe. Dumping LSASS process memory can expose user credentials, making it a high-value step in credential access. It relies on Windows file creation telemetry that records the process image path and the target dump filename.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious LSASS Credential Access via PowerShell (via process_creation)

Suspicious LSASS Memory Dump via Task Manager After Ivanti Exploitation

Suspicious ProcDump LSASS Memory Dump via process_creation

Malicious Mimikatz Credential Dump Log File Creation (via file_event)

Malicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enabled for Cleartext Credential Theft (via registry_set)

Suspicious LSASS Memory Dump via Procdump Process Creation

Windows WerFault LSASS Memory Dump File Creation

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

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-werfault-creates-dump-files-referencing-lsass-process-memory-c3e76af5

title: Windows WerFault LSASS Memory Dump File Creation
id: 7ae989b0-b6f6-4270-9799-9099a7d3724e
status: test
description: This rule identifies executions of WerFault.exe that create dump files whose names contain references to lsass or lsass.exe. Dumping LSASS process memory can expose user credentials, making it a high-value step in credential access. It relies on Windows file creation telemetry that records the process image path and the target dump filename.
references:
  - https://github.com/helpsystems/nanodump
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_lsass_werfault_dump.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-27
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: file_event
detection:
  selection:
    Image: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WerFault.exe
    TargetFilename|contains:
      - \lsass
      - lsass.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: c3e76af5-4ce0-4a14-9c9a-25ceb8fda182
    type: derived

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