Detect Unauthorized Access to Password Managers

Technique Detected:  Password Managers | T1555.005

ID: DET0597
Domains: Enterprise
Analytics: AN1641, AN1642, AN1643
Version: 1.0
Created: 21 October 2025
Last Modified: 21 October 2025

Analytics

AN1641

Detection of suspicious access to password manager processes (KeePass, 1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden) through abnormal process injection, memory reads, or command-line usage of vault-related DLLs. Correlates process creation with OS API calls and file access to vault databases (.kdbx, .opvault, .ldb).

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
Process Creation (DC0032) WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4688
Process Access (DC0035) WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=10
File Metadata (DC0059) WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=15
Mutable Elements
Field Description
PasswordManagerBinaries List of monitored binaries and file formats for password managers in use (e.g., KeePass, 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass).
TimeWindow Window to correlate process creation, API access, and file reads indicative of credential extraction.
UserContext Filter for administrative accounts vs. expected users of password managers.

AN1642

Suspicious access to password manager vaults (KeePassXC, gnome-keyring, pass) via memory scraping or unauthorized file reads. Detects unusual command execution involving gdb/strace attached to password manager processes.

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
File Access (DC0055) auditd:SYSCALL open/read on ~/.local/share/keepassxc/* OR ~/.password-store/*
Process Access (DC0035) auditd:SYSCALL ptrace
Mutable Elements
Field Description
VaultFilePaths Linux paths to monitor for vault database files (KeePassXC, pass, gnome-keyring).
TimeWindow Correlation interval to detect multiple suspicious access events.

AN1643

Detection of password manager database access (1Password .opvault, LastPass caches, KeePass .kdbx) outside expected parent processes. Identifies memory scraping attempts via suspicious API calls or tools attaching to password manager processes.

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
Process Creation (DC0032) macos:unifiedlog security OR injection attempts into 1Password OR LastPass
File Access (DC0055) macos:unifiedlog *.opvault OR *.ldb OR *.kdbx
Process Access (DC0035) macos:osquery unexpected memory inspection
Mutable Elements
Field Description
VaultFileExtensions Password manager file extensions (.opvault, .kdbx, .ldb) to monitor for anomalous access.
ParentProcessWhitelist Expected parent processes that normally access password manager files, for filtering false positives.