Attack Lifecycle · Stage 3 of 7
Stage 3: Credential Access
May 2026 · 8 min read · MITRE ATT&CK · Password Theft · Hash Dumping · Credential Harvesting
Stage 3 of the cyberattack lifecycle: Credential Access. The attacker steals credentials to move through the network as a legitimate user — making their activity nearly invisible to traditional security tools.
Attacker Goal
Obtain valid credentials to authenticate as legitimate users, enabling unrestricted movement through the network.
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1003T1110T1555T1056T1539T1606
Stage Description
The attacker steals credentials to move through the network as a legitimate user — making their activity nearly invisible to traditional security tools.
Common Entry Vectors
- Dumping password hashes from Windows memory
- Credential stuffing using leaked password databases
- Keylogging to capture credentials as they are typed
- Browser password store extraction
- Phishing for credentials via fake login pages
Typical Attacker Actions
- Dumps LSASS memory to extract password hashes
- Accesses stored credentials in browsers and applications
- Installs keyloggers to capture credentials in real time
- Searches configuration files for hardcoded passwords
- Uses fake login pages to harvest credentials
✓ Purim NetGo Detection & Response
- Canary credentials planted in high-value locations
- Fake password files that alert when accessed or used
- Honeypot login portals that capture attacker credentials
- Alerts fire the moment canary credentials are used anywhere
- Full intelligence on who used the credentials and from where
What Purim NetGo Delivers at This Stage
- Credential Trap Detection — catch thieves at the moment of theft
- Zero-Day Coverage — no signatures needed for detection
- Instant Alerts — know within seconds when credentials are stolen
- Attacker Intelligence — capture the thief's full profile
- Proactive Defense — detect before credentials are weaponized
See It In Action
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