Adversaries may abuse authentication packages to execute DLLs when the system boots. Windows authentication package DLLs are loaded by the Local Security Authority (LSA) process at system start. They provide support for multiple logon processes and multiple security protocols to the operating system.[1]
Adversaries can use the autostart mechanism provided by LSA authentication packages for persistence by placing a reference to a binary in the Windows Registry location HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\ with the key value of "Authentication Packages"=<target binary>. The binary will then be executed by the system when the authentication packages are loaded.
| ID | Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| M1025 | Privileged Process Integrity |
Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and later versions, may make LSA run as a Protected Process Light (PPL) by setting the Registry key |
| ID | Name | Analytic ID | Analytic Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DET0207 | Detect LSA Authentication Package Persistence via Registry and LSASS DLL Load | AN0583 |
Registry modification of the LSA Authentication Packages key followed by LSASS loading a non-standard or unsigned DLL. This includes unusual write access to |