T1056.004: T1056.004
Essential information
- MITRE technique ID
T1056.004- Confidence
- 100/100
- Revoked
- No
- Published
- 16/12/2025 19:38
- Modified
- 27/03/2026 01:12
- Author / Source
- The MITRE Corporation
Aliases
Credential API Hooking
Platforms
windows macos linux
Description
Adversaries may hook into Windows application programming interface (API) functions and Linux system functions to collect user credentials. Malicious hooking mechanisms may capture API or function calls that include parameters that reveal user authentication credentials.(Citation: Microsoft TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.gen!I Sept 2017) Unlike [Keylogging](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1056/001), this technique focuses specifically on API functions that include parameters that reveal user credentials.
In Windows, hooking involves redirecting calls to these functions and can be implemented via:
* **Hooks procedures**, which intercept and execute designated code in response to events such as messages, keystrokes, and mouse inputs.(Citation: Microsoft Hook Overview)(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
* **Import address table (IAT) hooking**, which use modifications to a process’s IAT, where pointers to imported API functions are stored.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: Adlice Software IAT Hooks Oct 2014)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
* **Inline hooking**, which overwrites the first bytes in an API function to redirect code flow.(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)(Citation: HighTech Bridge Inline Hooking Sept 2011)(Citation: MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015)
In Linux and macOS, adversaries may hook into system functions via the `LD_PRELOAD` (Linux) or `DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES` (macOS) environment variables, which enables loading shared libraries into a program’s address space. For example, an adversary may capture credentials by hooking into the `libc read` function leveraged by SSH or SCP.(Citation: Intezer Symbiote 2022)
Kill chain phases
| Kill chain | Phase |
|---|---|
| mitre-attack | collection |
| mitre-attack | credential-access |
Marking (TLP)
TLP:CLEAR Copyright 2015-2025, The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation.
External references
- Microsoft TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.gen!I Sept 2017
- HighTech Bridge Inline Hooking Sept 2011
- Microsoft Process Snapshot
- Zairon Hooking Dec 2006
- Volatility Detecting Hooks Sept 2012
- mitre-attack (T1056.004)
- Jay GetHooks Sept 2011
- Elastic Process Injection July 2017
- StackExchange Hooks Jul 2012
- Microsoft Hook Overview
- PreKageo Winhook Jul 2011
- EyeofRa Detecting Hooking June 2017
- GMER Rootkits
- Intezer Symbiote 2022
- MWRInfoSecurity Dynamic Hooking 2015
- Adlice Software IAT Hooks Oct 2014