Modify Authentication Process: Network Provider DLL

ID: T1556.008
Tactics: TA0003 Persistence, TA0006 Credential Access, TA0112 Defense Impairment
Sub-technique of: T1556 Modify Authentication Process
Platforms: Windows
Data sources: Windows Registry Key Modification, File Creation, Process Access, Module Load
Source: attack.mitre.org
MITRE last modified: 12 May 2026

Adversaries may register malicious network provider dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to capture cleartext user credentials during the authentication process. Network provider DLLs allow Windows to interface with specific network protocols and can also support add-on credential management functions.^[2] During the logon process, Winlogon (the interactive logon module) sends credentials to the local mpnotify.exe process via RPC. The mpnotify.exe process then shares the credentials in cleartext with registered credential managers when notifying that a logon event is happening.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Adversaries can configure a malicious network provider DLL to receive credentials from mpnotify.exe.^[6] Once installed as a credential manager (via the Registry), a malicious DLL can receive and save credentials each time a user logs onto a Windows workstation or domain via the NPLogonNotify() function.^[5]

Adversaries may target planting malicious network provider DLLs on systems known to have increased logon activity and/or administrator logon activity, such as servers and domain controllers.^[3]

Detection

DET0580 Detect Network Provider DLL Registration and Credential Capture
Data components: Windows Registry Key Modification, File Creation, Process Access, Module Load

Mitigations (3)

M1024 Restrict Registry Permissions

Restrict Registry permissions to disallow the modification of sensitive Registry keys such as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order.

M1028 Operating System Configuration

Starting in Windows 11 22H2, the EnableMPRNotifications policy can be disabled through Group Policy or through a configuration service provider to prevent Winlogon from sending credentials to network providers.^[1]

M1047 Audit

Periodically review for new and unknown network provider DLLs within the Registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<NetworkProviderName>\NetworkProvider\ProviderPath).

Ensure only valid network provider DLLs are registered. The name of these can be found in the Registry key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order, and have corresponding service subkey pointing to a DLL at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentC ontrolSet\Services\<NetworkProviderName>\NetworkProvider.

Modify Authentication Process: Network Provider DLL

Detection

Mitigations (3)

References