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 Unsecured Credentials - T1552
(ATT&CK® Technique)
  Definition
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials. These credentials can be stored and/or misplaced in many locations on a system, including plaintext files (e.g. Bash History), operating system or application-specific repositories (e.g. Credentials in Registry), or other specialized files/artifacts (e.g. Private Keys).
D3FEND Inferred Relationships
Browse the D3FEND knowledge graph by clicking on the nodes below. 
        graph LR;
     T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| Credential["Credential"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class Credential ArtifactNode; click Credential href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:Credential";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click Credential href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:Credential"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode; click SystemConfigurationDatabase href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:SystemConfigurationDatabase";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click SystemConfigurationDatabase href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:SystemConfigurationDatabase"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| File["File"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class File ArtifactNode; click File href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:File";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click File href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:File"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| PrivateKey["Private Key"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class PrivateKey ArtifactNode; click PrivateKey href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:PrivateKey";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click PrivateKey href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:PrivateKey"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| CloudInstanceMetadata["Cloud Instance Metadata"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class CloudInstanceMetadata ArtifactNode; click CloudInstanceMetadata href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:CloudInstanceMetadata";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click CloudInstanceMetadata href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:CloudInstanceMetadata"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode; click CommandHistoryLogFile href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:CommandHistoryLogFile";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click CommandHistoryLogFile href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:CommandHistoryLogFile"; T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] --> |accesses| GroupPolicy["Group Policy"]; class T1552 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class GroupPolicy ArtifactNode; click GroupPolicy href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:GroupPolicy";
        click T1552 href "../../../offensive-technique/attack/T1552/"; click GroupPolicy href "../../../dao/artifact/d3f:GroupPolicy";                                                                                           DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -.->
            | may-deceive | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "../../../technique/d3f:DecoyFile"; DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | File["File"];
          
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "../../../technique/d3f:DecoyFile"; DecoyUserCredential["Decoy User Credential"] -->
          | spoofs | Credential["Credential"];
          DecoyUserCredential["Decoy User Credential"] -.->
            | may-deceive | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class DecoyUserCredential DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyUserCredential href "../../../technique/d3f:DecoyUserCredential";                                        FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | File["File"];
          FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -.->
            | may-detect | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "../../../technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring"; FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "../../../technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring";                           SystemConfigurationPermissions["System Configuration Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"];
          SystemConfigurationPermissions["System Configuration Permissions"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class SystemConfigurationPermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode;
          click SystemConfigurationPermissions href "../../../technique/d3f:SystemConfigurationPermissions"; FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | File["File"];
          FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "../../../technique/d3f:FileEncryption"; FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "../../../technique/d3f:FileEncryption";                                        CredentialCompromiseScopeAnalysis["Credential Compromise Scope Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | Credential["Credential"];
          CredentialCompromiseScopeAnalysis["Credential Compromise Scope Analysis"] -.->
            | may-detect | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class CredentialCompromiseScopeAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click CredentialCompromiseScopeAnalysis href "../../../technique/d3f:CredentialCompromiseScopeAnalysis";              Multi-factorAuthentication["Multi-factor Authentication"] -->
          | uses | Credential["Credential"];
          Multi-factorAuthentication["Multi-factor Authentication"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class Multi-factorAuthentication DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click Multi-factorAuthentication href "../../../technique/d3f:Multi-factorAuthentication"; CredentialRevocation["Credential Revocation"] -->
          | deletes | Credential["Credential"];
          CredentialRevocation["Credential Revocation"] -.->
            | may-evict | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class CredentialRevocation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click CredentialRevocation href "../../../technique/d3f:CredentialRevocation";                           AuthenticationCacheInvalidation["Authentication Cache Invalidation"] -->
          | deletes | Credential["Credential"];
          AuthenticationCacheInvalidation["Authentication Cache Invalidation"] -.->
            | may-evict | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class AuthenticationCacheInvalidation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click AuthenticationCacheInvalidation href "../../../technique/d3f:AuthenticationCacheInvalidation";              FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          FileEviction["File Eviction"] -.->
            | may-evict | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "../../../technique/d3f:FileEviction"; FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | File["File"];
          
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "../../../technique/d3f:FileEviction";                           CredentialRotation["Credential Rotation"] -->
          | regenerates | Credential["Credential"];
          CredentialRotation["Credential Rotation"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class CredentialRotation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click CredentialRotation href "../../../technique/d3f:CredentialRotation";              CredentialTransmissionScoping["Credential Transmission Scoping"] -->
          | isolates | Credential["Credential"];
          CredentialTransmissionScoping["Credential Transmission Scoping"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class CredentialTransmissionScoping DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click CredentialTransmissionScoping href "../../../technique/d3f:CredentialTransmissionScoping";              LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "../../../technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions"; LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | File["File"];
          
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "../../../technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions";                           ContentModification["Content Modification"] -->
          | modifies | File["File"];
          ContentModification["Content Modification"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class ContentModification DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click ContentModification href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentModification"; ContentModification["Content Modification"] -->
          | modifies | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class ContentModification DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click ContentModification href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentModification"; ContentQuarantine["Content Quarantine"] -->
          | quarantines | File["File"];
          ContentQuarantine["Content Quarantine"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class ContentQuarantine DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click ContentQuarantine href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentQuarantine"; ContentQuarantine["Content Quarantine"] -->
          | quarantines | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class ContentQuarantine DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click ContentQuarantine href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentQuarantine";                                                                                                                           RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | File["File"];
          RestoreFile["Restore File"] -.->
            | may-restore | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "../../../technique/d3f:RestoreFile"; RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "../../../technique/d3f:RestoreFile"; RestoreConfiguration["Restore Configuration"] -->
          | restores | GroupPolicy["Group Policy"];
          RestoreConfiguration["Restore Configuration"] -.->
            | may-restore | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class RestoreConfiguration DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class GroupPolicy ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreConfiguration href "../../../technique/d3f:RestoreConfiguration"; RestoreConfiguration["Restore Configuration"] -->
          | restores | CloudInstanceMetadata["Cloud Instance Metadata"];
          
          class RestoreConfiguration DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CloudInstanceMetadata ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreConfiguration href "../../../technique/d3f:RestoreConfiguration"; RestoreDatabase["Restore Database"] -->
          | restores | SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"];
          RestoreDatabase["Restore Database"] -.->
            | may-restore | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class RestoreDatabase DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreDatabase href "../../../technique/d3f:RestoreDatabase";                                                                  FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | File["File"];
          FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -.->
            | may-detect | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "../../../technique/d3f:FileAnalysis"; FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "../../../technique/d3f:FileAnalysis"; CredentialHardening["Credential Hardening"] -->
          | hardens | Credential["Credential"];
          CredentialHardening["Credential Hardening"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class CredentialHardening DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click CredentialHardening href "../../../technique/d3f:CredentialHardening";                                        ReissueCredential["Reissue Credential"] -->
          | restores | Credential["Credential"];
          ReissueCredential["Reissue Credential"] -.->
            | may-restore | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class ReissueCredential DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class Credential ArtifactNode;
          click ReissueCredential href "../../../technique/d3f:ReissueCredential";              ContentFiltering["Content Filtering"] -->
          | filters | File["File"];
          ContentFiltering["Content Filtering"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class ContentFiltering DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click ContentFiltering href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentFiltering"; ContentFiltering["Content Filtering"] -->
          | filters | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class ContentFiltering DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click ContentFiltering href "../../../technique/d3f:ContentFiltering";                           RemoteFileAccessMediation["Remote File Access Mediation"] -->
          | isolates | File["File"];
          RemoteFileAccessMediation["Remote File Access Mediation"] -.->
            | may-isolate | T1552["Unsecured Credentials"] ;
          class RemoteFileAccessMediation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class File ArtifactNode;
          click RemoteFileAccessMediation href "../../../technique/d3f:RemoteFileAccessMediation";            RemoteFileAccessMediation["Remote File Access Mediation"] -->
          | isolates | CommandHistoryLogFile["Command History Log File"];
          
          class RemoteFileAccessMediation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CommandHistoryLogFile ArtifactNode;
          click RemoteFileAccessMediation href "../../../technique/d3f:RemoteFileAccessMediation";