xalgord Extracting Credentials from Memory Dump
When to Use
- During incident response to determine what credentials an attacker had access to
- When assessing the scope of credential compromise after a breach
- For identifying accounts that need immediate password resets
- When investigating lateral movement and pass-the-hash/pass-the-ticket attacks
- For recovering encryption keys or authentication tokens from process memory
Detection Gaps & Validation
- Credential Guard defeats LSASS scraping. When VBS/Credential Guard is enabled, derived secrets (NTLM, Kerberos keys) live in the isolated LSAIso process and
pypykatz/mimikatz/windows.lsadumpreturn little or nothing. Confirm Credential Guard state before concluding "no credentials present." - No plaintext by default. WDigest plaintext requires
UseLogonCredential=1(HKLM\SYSTEM...\WDigest); on Windows 8.1+ it is off, so an empty WDigest field is expected, not a tool failure. - RunAsPPL / LSA Protection blocks process access to lsass.exe, so a memory image taken without it (or an offline dump) is required; live
windows.memmap --pid <lsass>may yield smeared/partial data. - Volatility symbol mismatch = false negatives. A wrong build/symbol table makes
windows.hashdump/pslistreturn empty. Verify withwindows.infoand confirm the lsass PID is actually present before trusting an empty result. - Interpretation false positives: logon sessions hold stale credentials from earlier users still resident in memory — a recovered hash does not prove that account logged in during the incident window.
- Validate / cross-corroborate: reconcile recovered hashes offline against SAM+SYSTEM/SECURITY via
secretsdump.py(RID 500 should match), and tie each session to Security.evtx 4624/4672 logon events. Crack or pass-the-hash confirmation proves the hash is live, not artifacted.
Prerequisites
- Memory dump in raw, ELF, or crash dump format
- Volatility 3 with Windows symbol tables
- Mimikatz (for offline analysis of extracted LSASS dumps)
- pypykatz (Python implementation of Mimikatz for Linux-based analysis)
- Understanding of Windows authentication (NTLM, Kerberos, DPAPI)
- Appropriate legal authorization for credential extraction
Workflow
Step 1: Prepare Tools and Verify Memory Dump
# Install analysis tools
pip install volatility3 pypykatz
# Verify memory dump integrity
sha256sum /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw
# Identify the OS version
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.info
# Verify LSASS process exists in memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.pslist | grep -i lsass
# Output:
# PID PPID ImageFileName Offset(V) Threads Handles SessionId
# 684 564 lsass.exe 0xffffe00123456 35 1234 0
Step 2: Extract Credential Hashes with Volatility
# Dump SAM database hashes from memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.hashdump \
| tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/hashdump.txt
# Output format:
# User RID LM Hash NTLM Hash
# Administrator 500 aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee fc525c9683e8fe067095ba2ddc971889
# Guest 501 aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee 31d6cfe0d16ae931b73c59d7e0c089c0
# DefaultAccount 503 aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee 31d6cfe0d16ae931b73c59d7e0c089c0
# svcbackup 1001 aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee 2b576acbe6bcfda7294d6bd18041b8fe
# Extract LSA secrets
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.lsadump \
| tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsadump.txt
# Extract cached domain credentials
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.cachedump \
| tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/cachedump.txt
Step 3: Dump LSASS Process Memory for Detailed Analysis
# Dump LSASS process memory (PID from Step 1)
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.memmap --pid 684 --dump \
-o /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass_dump/
# Alternative: Dump all files associated with LSASS
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.dumpfiles --pid 684 \
-o /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass_files/
# Use procdump plugin for cleaner process dump
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.dumpfiles \
--pid 684 -o /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/
# Rename the dump file for pypykatz/mimikatz
mv /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass_dump/pid.684.dmp \
/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass.dmp
Step 4: Extract Credentials with pypykatz
# Run pypykatz against the full memory dump
pypykatz lsa minidump /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass.dmp \
> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/pypykatz_results.txt 2>&1
# Run pypykatz against the raw memory dump directly
pypykatz rekall /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw \
> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/pypykatz_full.txt 2>&1
# Parse pypykatz output for structured analysis
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import json
# pypykatz can also output JSON
import subprocess
result = subprocess.run(
['pypykatz', 'lsa', 'minidump', '/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass.dmp', '-j'],
capture_output=True, text=True
)
if result.stdout:
data = json.loads(result.stdout)
print("=== EXTRACTED CREDENTIALS ===\n")
for session_key, session in data.get('logon_sessions', {}).items():
username = session.get('username', 'Unknown')
domain = session.get('domainname', '')
logon_server = session.get('logon_server', '')
logon_time = session.get('logon_time', '')
sid = session.get('sid', '')
if username and username != '(null)':
print(f"Session: {domain}\\{username}")
print(f" SID: {sid}")
print(f" Logon Server: {logon_server}")
print(f" Logon Time: {logon_time}")
# NTLM hashes
msv = session.get('msv_creds', [])
for cred in msv:
nt = cred.get('NThash', '')
lm = cred.get('LMHash', '')
if nt:
print(f" NTLM Hash: {nt}")
if lm:
print(f" LM Hash: {lm}")
# Kerberos tickets
kerb = session.get('kerberos_creds', [])
for cred in kerb:
password = cred.get('password', '')
if password:
print(f" Kerberos Password: {password}")
tickets = cred.get('tickets', [])
for ticket in tickets:
print(f" Kerberos Ticket: {ticket.get('server', '')} (type: {ticket.get('enc_type', '')})")
# WDigest (plaintext on older systems)
wdigest = session.get('wdigest_creds', [])
for cred in wdigest:
pwd = cred.get('password', '')
if pwd:
print(f" WDigest Password: {pwd}")
# DPAPI master keys
dpapi = session.get('dpapi_creds', [])
for cred in dpapi:
mk = cred.get('masterkey', '')
if mk:
print(f" DPAPI Master Key: {mk[:40]}...")
print()
PYEOF
Step 5: Extract Kerberos Tickets and Tokens
# Extract Kerberos tickets from memory
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import subprocess, json
result = subprocess.run(
['pypykatz', 'lsa', 'minidump', '/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/lsass.dmp', '-j', '-k', '/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/kerberos/'],
capture_output=True, text=True
)
# pypykatz exports .kirbi files to the specified directory
import os
kirbi_dir = '/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/kerberos/'
if os.path.exists(kirbi_dir):
for f in os.listdir(kirbi_dir):
if f.endswith('.kirbi'):
filepath = os.path.join(kirbi_dir, f)
size = os.path.getsize(filepath)
print(f" Kerberos ticket: {f} ({size} bytes)")
PYEOF
# Search process memory for authentication tokens and API keys
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.strings --pid 684 | \
grep -iE '(bearer |authorization:|api[_-]key|token=|password=|secret=)' \
> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/auth_strings.txt
# Search for cloud credentials in memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.strings | \
grep -iE '(AKIA[A-Z0-9]{16}|ASIA[A-Z0-9]{16}|aws_secret_access_key)' \
> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/aws_credentials.txt
# Search for browser session tokens
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.strings | \
grep -iE '(session_id=|PHPSESSID=|JSESSIONID=|_ga=|sid=)' \
> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/session_tokens.txt
Step 6: Compile Credential Findings Report
# Generate credential compromise assessment
python3 << 'PYEOF'
print("""
CREDENTIAL EXTRACTION REPORT
==============================
Case: 2024-001
Source: memory.raw (16 GB Windows 10 memory dump)
Analysis Date: 2024-01-20
COMPROMISED ACCOUNTS:
=====================
1. Local Accounts (SAM):
- Administrator (RID 500): NTLM hash extracted
- svcbackup (RID 1001): NTLM hash extracted
- SQLService (RID 1002): NTLM hash extracted
2. Domain Accounts (LSASS):
- CORP\\admin.user: NTLM hash + Kerberos TGT
- CORP\\svc.backup: NTLM hash + plaintext password (WDigest)
- CORP\\domain.admin: Kerberos TGS tickets for 3 services
3. Cached Domain Credentials:
- CORP\\helpdesk.user: DCC2 hash
- CORP\\it.manager: DCC2 hash
4. Cloud Credentials:
- AWS Access Key: AKIA... found in process memory (PID 3456)
- Azure AD token found in browser process memory
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUIRED:
- Reset passwords for all listed accounts
- Revoke and rotate AWS access keys
- Invalidate all active Kerberos tickets (krbtgt reset)
- Review DPAPI-protected data for additional exposure
""")
PYEOF
Key Concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| LSASS (Local Security Authority) | Windows process managing authentication, storing credentials in memory |
| NTLM hash | NT LAN Manager hash of user password used for authentication |
| Kerberos TGT | Ticket Granting Ticket allowing request of service tickets |
| WDigest | Legacy authentication protocol storing plaintext passwords in memory (pre-Win8.1) |
| DPAPI | Data Protection API using master keys derived from user credentials |
| DCC2 (Domain Cached Credentials) | Cached domain password hashes for offline logon |
| LSA Secrets | Encrypted service account passwords and other secrets stored by LSA |
| Pass-the-Hash | Attack technique using extracted NTLM hashes without knowing the plaintext password |
Tools & Systems
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Volatility 3 | Memory forensics framework with hashdump, lsadump, cachedump plugins |
| pypykatz | Python implementation of Mimikatz for cross-platform LSASS analysis |
| Mimikatz | Windows credential extraction tool (used offline against dumps) |
| secretsdump.py | Impacket tool for extracting secrets from SAM/SYSTEM/SECURITY |
| hashcat | Password hash cracking for recovered NTLM and DCC2 hashes |
| John the Ripper | Alternative password cracking tool |
| Rubeus | Kerberos ticket manipulation and extraction tool |
| Impacket | Python toolkit for working with Windows network protocols and credentials |
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Post-Breach Credential Assessment Extract all cached credentials from LSASS memory to determine which accounts were exposed, prioritize password resets based on privilege level, check for golden ticket material (krbtgt hash), assess if cloud credentials were accessible.
Scenario 2: Lateral Movement Investigation Extract NTLM hashes and Kerberos tickets to understand how the attacker moved between systems, identify pass-the-hash/pass-the-ticket artifacts, correlate extracted credentials with network logon events in event logs.
Scenario 3: Ransomware Operator Credential Theft Analyze pre-encryption memory dump for Mimikatz execution evidence, extract all available credential types, determine if domain admin credentials were obtained, assess if krbtgt was compromised (golden ticket), plan credential rotation strategy.
Scenario 4: Cloud Credential Theft from Endpoint Search endpoint memory for AWS access keys, Azure tokens, and GCP service account keys stored by CLI tools and browsers, identify exposed cloud permissions, immediately rotate discovered credentials, audit cloud audit logs for unauthorized access.
Output Format
Credential Extraction Summary:
Source: memory.raw (16 GB, Windows 10 Build 19041)
LSASS PID: 684
Credentials Recovered:
Local NTLM Hashes: 4 accounts
Domain NTLM Hashes: 3 accounts
Kerberos TGTs: 2 tickets
Kerberos TGS: 5 service tickets
Plaintext Passwords: 1 (WDigest - svc.backup)
Cached Domain Creds: 2 DCC2 hashes
LSA Secrets: 3 service account passwords
DPAPI Master Keys: 4 keys recovered
Cloud Credentials: 1 AWS access key, 1 Azure token
Highest Privilege Compromised: Domain Admin (CORP\domain.admin)
Recommended Actions:
- Immediate: Reset all extracted account passwords
- Immediate: Rotate AWS access key AKIA...
- Urgent: Double krbtgt password reset (golden ticket mitigation)
- High: Revoke all Kerberos tickets via krbtgt rotation
- Medium: Audit DPAPI-protected data exposure