<!-- Copyright (c) 2026 defconxt. All rights reserved. -->
<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
<!-- NERF is a trademark of defconxt. -->
---
name: detecting-skeleton-key-attacks
description: >-
  Detect Skeleton Key attacks by monitoring LSASS process integrity, analyzing authentication anomalies, and identifying master password injection on domain controllers.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: active-directory-security
tags:
  - skeleton-key
  - lsass
  - persistence
  - detection
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1556.001"]
  frameworks: ["MITRE ATT&CK", "NIST 800-53"]
  tools: ["sysmon", "sigma", "yara"]
---

# Detecting Skeleton Key Attacks

## Overview

Detect Skeleton Key attacks by monitoring LSASS process integrity, analyzing authentication anomalies, and identifying master password injection on domain controllers.

## Prerequisites

| Tool / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| `sysmon` | Security tooling |
| `sigma` | Security tooling |
| `yara` | Security tooling |
| Sysmon on DCs, SIEM access, LSASS monitoring capability | Environment requirement |

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Quick start commands
node scripts/agent.js --help
Get-Process lsass | Select-Object Id,Modules
```

## Workflow

### Step 1: Monitor LSASS Integrity

```bash
Get-Process lsass | Select-Object Id,Modules
```

### Step 2: Deploy Detection Rules

```bash
sigma convert -t splunk rules/skeleton_key.yml
```

### Step 3: Check DC Memory

```bash
node scripts/agent.js detect --dc-ip 10.0.0.1
```

## Detection

```yaml
title: Skeleton Key Attacks Detection
id: 0d489ee0-5ece-4a63-aa06-9756f94126b7
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to detecting skeleton key attacks techniques in active directory security context
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine: "*detecting*skeleton*"
  condition: selection
level: medium
tags:
  - attack.t1556.001
  - attack.credential_access
falsepositives:
  - Authorized Active Directory administration using approved management tools
```


**Detection Opportunities**

| Indicator | Source | Detection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Key Attacks Detection | windows/process_creation | Sigma rule (medium) |
| ATT&CK Coverage | MITRE ATT&CK | T1556.001 |

## Verification

- **Verify LSASS monitoring**: `node scripts/agent.js detect --dc-ip 10.0.0.1`
- **Test detection rules**: `node scripts/agent.js simulate --dc-ip 10.0.0.1`

## References

- MITRE ATT&CK: T1556.001
- Frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, NIST 800-53
- Tools: sysmon, sigma, yara
