Security Support Provider (SSP) Added to LSA Configuration

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects the addition of a SSP to the registry. Upon a reboot or API call, SSP DLLs gain access to encrypted and plaintext passwords stored in Windows.

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Security Support Provider (SSP) Added to LSA Configuration
id: eeb30123-9fbd-4ee8-aaa0-2e545bbed6dc
status: test
description: |
    Detects the addition of a SSP to the registry. Upon a reboot or API call, SSP DLLs gain access to encrypted and plaintext passwords stored in Windows.
references:
    - https://powersploit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Persistence/Install-SSP/
    - https://github.com/EmpireProject/Empire/blob/08cbd274bef78243d7a8ed6443b8364acd1fc48b/data/module_source/persistence/Install-SSP.ps1#L157
author: iwillkeepwatch
date: 2019-01-18
modified: 2026-03-30
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1547.005
logsource:
    category: registry_event
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|endswith:
            - '\Control\Lsa\Security Packages'
            - '\Control\Lsa\OSConfig\Security Packages'
    filter_main_msiexec:
        Image:
            - 'C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\syswow64\MsiExec.exe'
    filter_main_image_null:
        Image: null
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where (RegistryKey endswith "\\Control\\Lsa\\Security Packages" or RegistryKey endswith "\\Control\\Lsa\\OSConfig\\Security Packages") and (not(((ActingProcessName in~ ("C:\\Windows\\system32\\msiexec.exe", "C:\\Windows\\syswow64\\MsiExec.exe")) or isnull(ActingProcessName))))

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Unknown

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Privilege Escalation
• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1547.005 — T1547.005

References

• https://powersploit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Persistence/Install-SSP/
• https://github.com/EmpireProject/Empire/blob/08cbd274bef78243d7a8ed6443b8364acd1fc48b/data/module_source/persistence/Install-SSP.ps1#L157
• SigmaHQ Rule