type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--837f9164-50af-4ac0-8219-379d8a74cefc
created: 2020-02-04T12:52:13.006Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/001
external_id: T1552.001
source_name: CG 2014
description: CG. (2014, May 20). Mimikatz Against Virtual Machine Memory Part 1. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
url: http://carnal0wnage.attackresearch.com/2014/05/mimikatz-against-virtual-machine-memory.html
source_name: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware
description: Chen, J. et al. (2021, February 3). Hildegard: New TeamTNT Cryptojacking Malware Targeting Kubernetes. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/hildegard-malware-teamtnt/
source_name: Unit 42 Unsecured Docker Daemons
description: Chen, J.. (2020, January 29). Attacker's Tactics and Techniques in Unsecured Docker Daemons Revealed. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/attackers-tactics-and-techniques-in-unsecured-docker-daemons-revealed/
source_name: Specter Ops - Cloud Credential Storage
description: Maddalena, C.. (2018, September 12). Head in the Clouds. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
url: https://posts.specterops.io/head-in-the-clouds-bd038bb69e48
source_name: SRD GPP
description: Security Research and Defense. (2014, May 13). MS14-025: An Update for Group Policy Preferences. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
url: http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2014/05/13/ms14-025-an-update-for-group-policy-preferences.aspx
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:03.000Z
name: Credentials In Files
description: Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials. These can be files created by users to store their own credentials, shared credential stores for a group of individuals, configuration files containing passwords for a system or service, or source code/binary files containing embedded passwords.

It is possible to extract passwords from backups or saved virtual machines through [OS Credential Dumping](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003).(Citation: CG 2014) Passwords may also be obtained from Group Policy Preferences stored on the Windows Domain Controller.(Citation: SRD GPP)

In cloud and/or containerized environments, authenticated user and service account credentials are often stored in local configuration and credential files.(Citation: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware) They may also be found as parameters to deployment commands in container logs.(Citation: Unit 42 Unsecured Docker Daemons) In some cases, these files can be copied and reused on another machine or the contents can be read and then used to authenticate without needing to copy any files.(Citation: Specter Ops - Cloud Credential Storage)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: credential-access
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Rory McCune, Aqua Security
Jay Chen, Palo Alto Networks
Yossi Weizman, Azure Defender Research Team
Vishwas Manral, McAfee
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC)
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Containers
IaaS
Linux
macOS
Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.3