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Credential API Hooking - T1056.004 (f5946b5e-9408-485f-a7f7-b5efc88909b6)

Adversaries may hook into Windows application programming interface (API) functions to collect user credentials. Malicious hooking mechanisms may capture API calls that include parameters that reveal user authentication credentials.(Citation: Microsoft TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.gen!I Sept 2017) Unlike Keylogging, this technique focuses specifically on API functions that include parameters that reveal user credentials. Hooking involves redirecting calls to these functions and can be implemented via:

  • Hooks procedures, which intercept and execute designated code in response to events such as messages, keystrokes, and mouse inputs.(Citation: Microsoft Hook Overview)(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
  • Import address table (IAT) hooking, which use modifications to a process’s IAT, where pointers to imported API functions are stored.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: Adlice Software IAT Hooks Oct 2014)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
  • Inline hooking, which overwrites the first bytes in an API function to redirect code flow.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: HighTech Bridge Inline Hooking Sept 2011)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
Cluster A Galaxy A Cluster B Galaxy B Level
Input Capture - T1056 (bb5a00de-e086-4859-a231-fa793f6797e2) Attack Pattern Credential API Hooking - T1056.004 (f5946b5e-9408-485f-a7f7-b5efc88909b6) Attack Pattern 1