Pass the Hash

Definitions

1. A credential theft technique where an attacker authenticates with a stolen password hash instead of the plaintext password. It shows up in application security, identity, infrastructure, or incident response work depending on the environment. Teams use the concept to prevent abuse, detect adversary activity earlier, or define stronger control boundaries during engineering, testing, and operations.

   In plain English: Pass the Hash is the practical security idea behind a control, weakness, or safeguard. It matters because it changes how attackers succeed or defenders reduce risk.

   Example: "During the review, the team focused on Pass the Hash after telemetry and testing showed it was the fastest way to reduce exposure, tighten controls, and close a realistic attack path before the next production release."

Related Terms

• Execution Policy
• Active Directory
• Bitlocker
• Group Policy
• Kerberos
• Living off the Land
• Pass the Ticket
• Micro-Segmentation
• PS Exec