T1550.002: Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK · Tactic: Lateral Movement · Total Cataloged Families: 3 · Observed Samples: 6 · Primary Threat Categories: Advanced Threat

Operational Executive Summary

T1550.002 (Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash) is classified under the Lateral Movement tactic within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Methods used to extend access to additional remote systems and compute nodes within an enterprise network via SMB/RPC, Windows Remote Management, and RDP sessions. In telemetry gathered across enterprise endpoints and the EMBER 2018 benchmark, this technique was weaponized across 3 distinct malware families, totaling over 6 validated samples.

Technical Anatomy & Adversary Tradecraft

Adversaries leverage Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash to accomplish operational objectives while minimizing anomalous forensic footprints. When executing Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash, malicious binaries commonly interact directly with low-level Windows APIs, kernel mode drivers, or native scripting interfaces to bypass traditional file-integrity monitors and static antivirus signatures.

In modern multi-stage campaigns, T1550.002 is frequently observed functioning as an intermediate bridge: initial access payloads (such as spearphishing loaders or exploit macros) execute Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash to establish in-memory execution or persistence before staging secondary ransomware or data-exfiltration implants.

Authoritative MITRE ATT&CK Reference: View official technique documentation, sub-techniques, and adversary groups at https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/002/.

Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting

Detecting Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash requires telemetry correlation across endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents, Sysmon event streams, and security information event management (SIEM) pipelines:

Process Creation & Lineage: Monitor parent-child process anomalies where unexpected parent binaries (e.g., Office executables, web browsers, or script hosts) spawn command shells or native Windows utilities.
API Hooking & Behavioral Telemetry: EDR platforms should flag rapid calls to memory allocation, process injection, or registry manipulation APIs originating from unbacked executable memory regions.
Network Anomaly Correlation: Cross-reference endpoint execution timestamps with external network socket establishment to identify anomalous beaconing or covert data staging.

SOC Containment & Hardening Guidance

To mitigate risks associated with T1550.002 (Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash) across production infrastructure, security teams should implement the following defensive controls:

Attack Surface Reduction (ASR): Enforce strict application control policies (WDAC or AppLocker) to restrict execution to signed and verified corporate binaries.
Least Privilege & Credential Hygiene: Restrict local administrative privileges to prevent adversaries from tampering with defensive agents or escalating privileges.
Network Microsegmentation: Restrict lateral communication across endpoint VLANs to prevent wormable payloads from utilizing Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash across adjacent network segments.

→ Incident Response Guidance: Read our Botnet Protection & Remediation

Cataloged Malware Families Utilizing T1550.002 (3 Families)

The following malware families in the SystemHelpDesk catalog have been verified utilizing T1550.002 (Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash):

3 families

Family	Category	Sample Count	Technical Summary
hckpk	Advanced Threat	`4`	HackTool:Win32/Hckpk is a generic detection classification used for various HackTools and Password Crackers. These are technically dual-use utilities; they ...
libsam	Advanced Threat	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> Libsam (often a component of or detected alongside tools like `pwdump` or `gsecdump`) is a classification for a HackTool library desi...
pwdump	Advanced Threat	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> Pwdump is not a malware family itself, but rather a classification for a series of legitimate, highly potent penetration testing tool...