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.
Countered by 12 in MITRE D3FEND (Defensive Techniques)
- D3-ABPIApplication-based Process Isolation
- D3-HBPIHardware-based Process Isolation
- D3-HRHost Reboot
- D3-HSHost Shutdown
- D3-KBPIKernel-based Process Isolation
- D3-PLAProcess Lineage Analysis
- D3-PSProcess Suspension
- D3-PSAProcess Spawn Analysis
- D3-PSMDProcess Self-Modification Detection
- D3-PTProcess Termination
- D3-SCFSystem Call Filtering
- D3-WSAMWeb Session Access Mediation
Cite as SafeMode Space, mitre-attack-enterprise T1556.