Credential Access¶

What is "Credential Access" ?¶

Credential Access refers to a category in cybersecurity where an attacker focuses on stealing credentials like usernames, passwords, API keys, or other tokens from individuals or systems. These credentials are then typically used to perform unauthorized actions within a system, such as escalating privileges or moving laterally across a network. This category is part of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which is a globally-accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques observed in real-world attacks.

How is "Credential Access" Achieved ?¶

Credential access can be achieved through various techniques:

1. Brute Force: Attempting multiple passwords with the hope of eventually guessing correctly.
2. Input Capture: Using keyloggers or information capturing tools to record what a user types.
3. Exploitation of System Vulnerabilities: Utilizing security flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems and thereby obtaining credentials stored or processed by these systems.
4. Credential Dumping: Extracting credential data from system storage using tools like Mimikatz.
5. Phishing: Tricking users into providing their credentials by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
6. Network Sniffing: Capturing network traffic to extract unencrypted credentials.

Where Does "Credential Access" Typically Occur ?¶

Credential access can occur across various points in an IT environment:

1. End-user Devices: Personal computers and mobile devices where users input and store their credentials.
2. Servers and Databases: Where credentials are often stored for authentication purposes.
3. Network Traffic: Communications between devices can be intercepted to gather transmitted credentials.
4. Cloud Services: Many modern applications rely on cloud-based services which require API tokens or user authentication that can be targeted.

Why is "Credential Access" Important ?¶

Prevention of Unauthorized Access: Credentials are the keys to the digital kingdom; securing them prevents unauthorized access, which could lead to data breaches, system damage, and loss of trust.

Regulatory Compliance: Many industries have regulations that mandate the protection of sensitive information, including how credentials must be handled (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

Maintaining Operational Integrity: Secure credential management ensures that only authorized personnel have access to critical systems, thus maintaining the integrity and availability of those systems.

Understanding and mitigating credential access techniques is crucial for defending against attacks that could otherwise exploit weak credential management practices to breach secure environments.