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  1. Frameworks
  2. >ATTACK
  3. >Credential Access
  4. >ATTACK-T1555.001
ATTACK-T1555.001Active

Keychain

Statement

Adversaries may acquire credentials from Keychain. Keychain (or Keychain Services) is the macOS credential management system that stores account names, passwords, private keys, certificates, sensitive application data, payment data, and secure notes. There are three types of Keychains: Login Keychain, System Keychain, and Local Items (iCloud) Keychain. The default Keychain is the Login Keychain, which stores user passwords and information. The System Keychain stores items accessed by the operating system, such as items shared among users on a host. The Local Items (iCloud) Keychain is used for items synced with Apple’s iCloud service.

Keychains can be viewed and edited through the Keychain Access application or using the command-line utility <code>security</code>. Keychain files are located in <code>~/Library/Keychains/</code>, <code>/Library/Keychains/</code>, and <code>/Network/Library/Keychains/</code>.(Citation: Keychain Services Apple)(Citation: Keychain Decryption Passware)(Citation: OSX Keychain Schaumann)

Adversaries may gather user credentials from Keychain storage/memory. For example, the command <code>security dump-keychain –d</code> will dump all Login Keychain credentials from <code>~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain-db</code>. Adversaries may also directly read Login Keychain credentials from the <code>~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain</code> file. Both methods require a password, where the default password for the Login Keychain is the current user’s password to login to the macOS host.(Citation: External to DA, the OS X Way)(Citation: Empire Keychain Decrypt)

Location

Tactic
Credential Access

Technique Details

Identifier
ATTACK-T1555.001
Parent Technique
ATTACK-T1555
ATT&CK Page
View on MITRE

Tactics

Credential Access

Platforms

macOS

Detection

Detect Access to macOS Keychain for Credential Theft

Mitigations

Password Policies: Set and enforce secure password policies for accounts to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. Strong password policies include enforcing password complexity, requiring regular password changes, and preventing password reuse. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:

Windows Systems:

  • Use Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to configure:
    • Minimum password length (e.g., 12+ characters).
    • Password complexity requirements.
    • Password history (e.g., disallow last 24 passwords).
    • Account lockout duration and thresholds.

Linux Systems:

  • Configure Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM):
  • Use pam_pwquality to enforce complexity and length requirements.
  • Implement pam_tally2 or pam_faillock for account lockouts.
  • Use pwunconv to disable password reuse.

Password Managers:

  • Enforce usage of enterprise password managers (e.g., Bitwarden, 1Password, LastPass) to generate and store strong passwords.

Password Blacklisting:

  • Use tools like Have I Been Pwned password checks or NIST-based blacklist solutions to prevent users from setting compromised passwords.

Regular Auditing:

  • Periodically audit password policies and account configurations to ensure compliance using tools like LAPS (Local Admin Password Solution) and vulnerability scanners.

Tools for Implementation

Windows:

  • Group Policy Management Console (GPMC): Enforce password policies.
  • Microsoft Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS): Enforce random, unique admin passwords.

Linux/macOS:

  • PAM Modules (pam_pwquality, pam_tally2, pam_faillock): Enforce password rules.
  • Lynis: Audit password policies and system configurations.

Cross-Platform:

  • Password Managers (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass): Manage and enforce strong passwords.
  • Have I Been Pwned API: Prevent the use of breached passwords.
  • NIST SP 800-63B compliant tools: Enforce password guidelines and blacklisting.
SP 800-53
SP800-53-CA-7relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-IA-5relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-SI-4relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
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Credential Access62 controls
ATTACK-T1003OS Credential DumpingATTACK-T1003.001LSASS MemoryATTACK-T1003.002Security Account ManagerATTACK-T1003.003NTDSATTACK-T1003.004LSA SecretsATTACK-T1003.005Cached Domain CredentialsATTACK-T1003.006DCSyncATTACK-T1003.007Proc FilesystemATTACK-T1003.008/etc/passwd and /etc/shadowATTACK-T1040Network SniffingATTACK-T1110Brute ForceATTACK-T1110.001Password GuessingATTACK-T1110.002Password CrackingATTACK-T1110.003Password SprayingATTACK-T1110.004Credential StuffingATTACK-T1111Multi-Factor Authentication InterceptionATTACK-T1187Forced AuthenticationATTACK-T1212Exploitation for Credential AccessATTACK-T1528Steal Application Access TokenATTACK-T1539Steal Web Session CookieATTACK-T1552Unsecured CredentialsATTACK-T1552.001Credentials In FilesATTACK-T1552.002Credentials in RegistryATTACK-T1552.003Shell HistoryATTACK-T1552.004Private KeysATTACK-T1552.005Cloud Instance Metadata APIATTACK-T1552.006Group Policy PreferencesATTACK-T1552.007Container APIATTACK-T1552.008Chat MessagesATTACK-T1555Credentials from Password StoresATTACK-T1555.001KeychainATTACK-T1555.002Securityd MemoryATTACK-T1555.003Credentials from Web BrowsersATTACK-T1555.004Windows Credential ManagerATTACK-T1555.005Password ManagersATTACK-T1555.006Cloud Secrets Management StoresATTACK-T1556Modify Authentication ProcessATTACK-T1556.001Domain Controller AuthenticationATTACK-T1556.002Password Filter DLLATTACK-T1556.003Pluggable Authentication ModulesATTACK-T1556.004Network Device AuthenticationATTACK-T1556.005Reversible EncryptionATTACK-T1556.006Multi-Factor AuthenticationATTACK-T1556.007Hybrid IdentityATTACK-T1556.008Network Provider DLLATTACK-T1556.009Conditional Access PoliciesATTACK-T1557Adversary-in-the-MiddleATTACK-T1557.001LLMNR/NBT-NS Poisoning and SMB RelayATTACK-T1557.002ARP Cache PoisoningATTACK-T1557.003DHCP SpoofingATTACK-T1557.004Evil TwinATTACK-T1558Steal or Forge Kerberos TicketsATTACK-T1558.001Golden TicketATTACK-T1558.002Silver TicketATTACK-T1558.003KerberoastingATTACK-T1558.004AS-REP RoastingATTACK-T1558.005Ccache FilesATTACK-T1606Forge Web CredentialsATTACK-T1606.001Web CookiesATTACK-T1606.002SAML TokensATTACK-T1621Multi-Factor Authentication Request GenerationATTACK-T1649Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates