> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/key-credential-attribute-modification.md).
# Key credential attribute modification
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
Windows Event Collector OR XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)
|
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| Detector Tags | Active Directory Certificate Services Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Modify Authentication Process (T1556) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A user modified the msDS-KeyCredentialLink attribute for an account, which may indicate a shadow credentials attack.
### Attacker's Goals
An attacker may be attempting to add shadow credentials to an account, gaining persistent unauthorized access.
### Investigative actions
* Follow further PKINIT authentication activity by the modified identity.\* Verify if Windows Hello for Business is enabled, as this is a common benign cause for this activity.\* Check if the modified credential maps to an existing device ID in Entra ID.\* Examine recent activity from the user account, including logon patterns and privilege changes.
### Variations
Possible shadow credentials addition
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Modify Authentication Process (T1556) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A user modified the msDS-KeyCredentialLink attribute for an account, which may indicate a shadow credentials attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to add shadow credentials to an account, gaining persistent unauthorized access.
**Investigative actions**
* Follow further PKINIT authentication activity by the modified identity.\* Verify if Windows Hello for Business is enabled, as this is a common benign cause for this activity.\* Check if the modified credential maps to an existing device ID in Entra ID.\* Examine recent activity from the user account, including logon patterns and privilege changes.
Key credential attribute addition
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Modify Authentication Process (T1556) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A user modified the msDS-KeyCredentialLink attribute for an account, which may indicate a shadow credentials attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to add shadow credentials to an account, gaining persistent unauthorized access.
**Investigative actions**
* Follow further PKINIT authentication activity by the modified identity.\* Verify if Windows Hello for Business is enabled, as this is a common benign cause for this activity.\* Check if the modified credential maps to an existing device ID in Entra ID.\* Examine recent activity from the user account, including logon patterns and privilege changes.
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