H3XAOperational intelligence
Live analytical pictureEvidence before assessment
TypeTechnique
External ID—
First seen2026-08-14
Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

Adversaries may attempt to steal Kerberos tickets stored in credential cache files (or ccache). These files are used for short term storage of a user's active session credentials. The ccache file is created upon user authentication and allows for access to multiple services without the user having to re-enter credentials. The /etc/krb5.conf configuration file and the KRB5CCNAME environment variable are used to set the storage location for ccache entries. On Linux, credentials are typically stored in the `/tmp` directory with a naming format of `krb5cc_%UID%` or `krb5.ccache`. On macOS, ccache entries are stored by default in memory with an `API:{uuid}` naming scheme. Typically, users interact with ticket storage using kinit , which obtains a Ticket-Granting-Ticket (TGT) for the principal; klist , which lists obtained tickets currently held in the credentials cache; and other built-in binaries.(Citation: Kerberos GNU/Linux)(Citation: Binary Defense Kerberos Linux) Adversaries can collect tickets from ccache files stored on disk and authenticate as the current user without their password to perform [Pass the Ticket](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/003) attacks. Adversaries can also use these tickets to impersonate legitimate users with elevated privileges to perform [Privilege Escalation](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004). Tools like Kekeo can also be used by adversaries to convert ccache files to Windows format for further [Lateral Movement](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008). On macOS, adversaries may use open-source tools or the Kerberos framework to interact with ccache files and extract TGTs or Service Tickets via lower-level APIs.(Citation: SpectorOps Bifrost Kerberos macOS 2019)(Citation: Linux Kerberos Tickets)(Citation: Brining MimiKatz to Unix)(Citation: Kekeo)

4 recorded

Relationships

mitigates
from Audit
Mitigation
mitigatesMitigation
subtechnique-ofTechnique
usesTool
7 external

References

mitre-attack
T1558.005
open
Binary Defense Kerberos Linux
https://www.binarydefense.com/resources/blog/shining-a-light-in-the-dark-how-binary-defense-uncovered-an-apt-lurking-in-shadows-of-it/
open
Kerberos GNU/Linux
https://adepts.of0x.cc/kerberos-thievery-linux/
open
Kekeo
https://github.com/gentilkiwi/kekeo
open
SpectorOps Bifrost Kerberos macOS 2019
https://posts.specterops.io/when-kirbi-walks-the-bifrost-4c727807744f
open
Brining MimiKatz to Unix
https://labs.portcullis.co.uk/download/eu-18-Wadhwa-Brown-Where-2-worlds-collide-Bringing-Mimikatz-et-al-to-UNIX.pdf
open
Linux Kerberos Tickets
https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/04/kerberos-tickets-on-linux-red-teams.html
open