Table of Contents
What Is the Primary Function of the Windows Security Account Manager (SAM)?
Learn the primary function of the Windows Security Account Manager (SAM) database: to hold local user account names and their corresponding password hashes. Discover why the SAM is a critical target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges.
Question
What is the primary function of the Windows SAM database?
A. Tracking running processes
B. Holding user account names and password hashes
C. Storing browsing history
D. Managing firewall rules
Answer
B. Holding user account names and password hashes
Explanation
SAM contains credentials in hashed form. The Security Account Manager (SAM) is a database file in Windows that stores local user and group information, most critically the usernames and the hashed versions of their passwords.
The Role of the SAM Database
The SAM database is a core component of Windows local security. Its primary function is to manage the identities of local users and groups on a standalone machine or a server that is not a domain controller. When a user attempts to log in to a local account, the system hashes the password they provide and compares it to the hash stored in the SAM database for that username. If the hashes match, the user is authenticated.
Security and Attack Vector
The SAM database is a protected system file, typically located at %SystemRoot%\System32\config\SAM. It is locked while Windows is running, preventing direct access even by administrators. The password hashes themselves (usually in NTLM format) are further encrypted using the System Key (SYSKEY), which is stored in the SYSTEM hive of the registry.
Despite these protections, the SAM is a high-value target for attackers who have gained initial administrative access to a system. They use various techniques, such as dumping the memory of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) or extracting the SAM and SYSTEM hives from a volume shadow copy, to obtain these hashes offline. Once they have the hashes, they can use tools like John the Ripper to try and crack them to reveal the plaintext passwords or use the hashes directly in “pass-the-hash” attacks to authenticate to other systems on the network.
Analysis of Incorrect Options
A. Tracking running processes: This function is handled by the Windows Task Manager and various kernel processes, not the SAM database.
C. Storing browsing history: Browsing history is stored by individual web browsers in their own respective user profile directories.
D. Managing firewall rules: Firewall rules are managed by the Windows Defender Firewall service and its associated configuration files and registry entries, not by the SAM.
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