MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise
T1556

Modify Authentication Process

Description

Adversaries may modify authentication mechanisms and processes to access user credentials or enable otherwise unwarranted access to accounts. The authentication process is handled by mechanisms, such as the Local Security Authentication Server (LSASS) process and the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) on Windows, pluggable authentication modules (PAM) on Unix-based systems, and authorization plugins on MacOS systems, responsible for gathering, storing, and validating credentials. By modifying an authentication process, an adversary may be able to authenticate to a service or system without using [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078). Adversaries may maliciously modify a part of this process to either reveal credentials or bypass authentication mechanisms. Compromised credentials or access may be used to bypass access controls placed on various resources on systems within the network and may even be used for persistent access to remote systems and externally available services, such as VPNs, Outlook Web Access and remote desktop.

Mapped SPARTA techniques

2 techniques

  • T1556 'Modify Authentication Process' is the exact-title-and-scope MITRE technique for tampering with authentication logic; SPARTA EX-0003 is the same activity. Cross-tactic moderate because T1556 sits in credential-access/persistence (used to compromise creds or persist) while SPARTA EX-0003 is execution (modifying auth as part of an exploit chain).

  • T1556 'Modify Authentication Process' is in persistence tactic and addresses tampering with auth mechanisms to enable continued unauthorised access; replacing cryptographic keys IS modifying the authentication process at the key-material level. Tactic aligns directly.

Cross-framework references

Relationships published by the source frameworks themselves, reproduced here with attribution. They are not SafeMode Space mappings and carry no confidence rating of ours.

Cite as SafeMode Space, mitre-attack-enterprise T1556.

Built 2026-07-25 from 216 techniques, 334 regulation articles, 125 ENISA controls, 2,610 framework controls, and 90 countermeasures.