public PrincipalCollection resolvePrincipals() {
        PrincipalCollection principals = getPrincipals();

        if (isEmpty(principals)) {
            //check to see if they were just authenticated:
            AuthenticationInfo info = getAuthenticationInfo();
            if (info != null) {
                principals = info.getPrincipals();
            }
        }

        if (isEmpty(principals)) {
            Subject subject = getSubject();
            if (subject != null) {
                principals = subject.getPrincipals();
            }
        }

        if (isEmpty(principals)) {
            //try the session:
            Session session = resolveSession();
            if (session != null) {
                principals = (PrincipalCollection) session.getAttribute(PRINCIPALS_SESSION_KEY);
            }
        }

        return principals;
    }
The session key that is used to store whether or not the user is authenticated.
core/src/main/java/org/apache/shiro/subject/support/DefaultSubjectContext.java