type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--94cb00a4-b295-4d06-aa2b-5653b9c1be9c
created: 2020-12-17T02:13:46.247Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1606
external_id: T1606
source_name: AWS Temporary Security Credentials
description: AWS. (n.d.). Requesting temporary security credentials. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_credentials_temp_request.html
source_name: Unit 42 Mac Crypto Cookies January 2019
description: Chen, Y., Hu, W., Xu, Z., et. al. (2019, January 31). Mac Malware Steals Cryptocurrency Exchanges’ Cookies. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/mac-malware-steals-cryptocurrency-exchanges-cookies/
source_name: GitHub AWS-ADFS-Credential-Generator
description: Damian Hickey. (2017, January 28). AWS-ADFS-Credential-Generator. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
url: https://github.com/pvanbuijtene/aws-adfs-credential-generator
source_name: Microsoft SolarWinds Customer Guidance
description: MSRC. (2020, December 13). Customer Guidance on Recent Nation-State Cyber Attacks. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
url: https://msrc-blog.microsoft.com/2020/12/13/customer-guidance-on-recent-nation-state-cyber-attacks/
source_name: Pass The Cookie
description: Rehberger, J. (2018, December). Pivot to the Cloud using Pass the Cookie. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
url: https://wunderwuzzi23.github.io/blog/passthecookie.html
source_name: Zimbra Preauth
description: Zimbra. (2023, March 16). Preauth. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
url: https://wiki.zimbra.com/wiki/Preauth
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:07.201Z
name: Forge Web Credentials
description: Adversaries may forge credential materials that can be used to gain access to web applications or Internet services. Web applications and services (hosted in cloud SaaS environments or on-premise servers) often use session cookies, tokens, or other materials to authenticate and authorize user access.

Adversaries may generate these credential materials in order to gain access to web resources. This differs from [Steal Web Session Cookie](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1539), [Steal Application Access Token](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1528), and other similar behaviors in that the credentials are new and forged by the adversary, rather than stolen or intercepted from legitimate users.

The generation of web credentials often requires secret values, such as passwords, [Private Keys](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/004), or other cryptographic seed values.(Citation: GitHub AWS-ADFS-Credential-Generator) Adversaries may also forge tokens by taking advantage of features such as the `AssumeRole` and `GetFederationToken` APIs in AWS, which allow users to request temporary security credentials (i.e., [Temporary Elevated Cloud Access](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/005)), or the `zmprov gdpak` command in Zimbra, which generates a pre-authentication key that can be used to generate tokens for any user in the domain.(Citation: AWS Temporary Security Credentials)(Citation: Zimbra Preauth)

Once forged, adversaries may use these web credentials to access resources (ex: [Use Alternate Authentication Material](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550)), which may bypass multi-factor and other authentication protection mechanisms.(Citation: Pass The Cookie)(Citation: Unit 42 Mac Crypto Cookies January 2019)(Citation: Microsoft SolarWinds Customer Guidance) 
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: credential-access
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Dylan Silva, AWS Security
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: no
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: SaaS
Windows
macOS
Linux
IaaS
Office Suite
Identity Provider
x_mitre_version: 1.5