Active Directory security is vital to ensure an organization’s overall safety. Around 95% of Fortune 500 companies employ Active Directory as their identity and access management tool. While Active Directory is a compelling tool suite that allows system administrators to do their jobs efficiently and quickly, it is prone to dangerous vulnerabilities when misconfigured. As a result, regular internal network testing is an excellent idea to ensure that the Active Directory environment is kept secure.
Active Directory security testers rely on the same tools and techniques criminal hackers use. These tools and techniques constantly evolve in a game of cat and mouse between the attackers and defenders, where fixes for vulnerabilities are released as fast as new exploits are discovered. This list serves as a guide to some of these tools and what they can be used for hardening an internal environment.
- BloodHound: BloodHound is an advanced tool that uses graph theory to reveal hidden and complex relationships within an Active Directory (AD) environment. Identifying high-value targets and potential attack paths allows security professionals to anticipate and prevent breaches. Read more about BloodHound.
- Mimikatz: A well-known tool in cybersecurity, Mimikatz specializes in extracting sensitive data like plaintext passwords, hashes, PIN codes, and Kerberos tickets from memory. Its capabilities like pass-the-hash and Golden ticket creation make it a go-to for penetration testers exploring Windows security vulnerabilities. More about Mimikatz.
- PowerShell Empire: This post-exploitation framework targets Microsoft Windows and Windows Server operating systems. By leveraging PowerShell, it enables extensive control and scripting capabilities in compromised environments, making it a powerful tool for deeper network penetration. More about PowerShell Empire.
- PingCastle: Designed for auditing the security level of large AD infrastructures, PingCastle delivers a comprehensive health check report. It assesses risks, scores security posture, and provides prioritized improvement recommendations. More about PingCastle.
- Impacket: Impacket is a collection of Python classes providing low-level programmatic access to network protocols. It’s widely used for its capabilities in interacting with Windows networks and AD environments from non-Windows platforms. More about Impacket.
- ADRecon: ADRecon is a tool that gathers a wealth of information from AD environments, particularly useful for auditors and penetration testers. It compiles artifacts like user and group details, policy settings, and more into easily digestible CSV files. More about ADRecon.
- LdapMiner: This tool is specifically designed to gather information from LDAP services in AD. It aids in uncovering potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in LDAP setups, which is crucial for securing directory services. More about LdapMiner.
- DSInternals: DSInternals is a valuable PowerShell module offering an array of AD security and forensic tools. It excels in tasks like retrieving data from AD databases, auditing passwords, and much more, making it essential for in-depth security assessments. More about DSInternals.
- CrackMapExec (CME): Often described as the Swiss army knife for pentesters, CME is adept at reconnaissance and exploiting network-wide AD credential theft scenarios. Its versatility makes it a staple in network penetration testing. More about CrackMapExec.
- Nmap with NSE Scripts: Nmap, when paired with its Network Scripting Engine (NSE) scripts, becomes an even more powerful tool. It’s primarily used for discovering hosts and services on a network, providing valuable insights for further penetration testing steps. More about Nmap.
- Metasploit Framework: Metasploit is not just for general penetration testing but also includes modules designed explicitly for AD. These modules help explore and exploit AD environments, showcasing Metasploit’s adaptability. More about Metasploit.
- Covenant: Covenant is a .NET command and control framework, highlighting the attack surface of .NET. It’s particularly useful in testing .NET applications within AD environments for vulnerabilities. More about Covenant.
- NTDSXtract: A toolkit for extracting information from the NTDS.dit file found in Windows AD environments. It’s beneficial for forensic analysis and penetration testing, offering insights into the stored data of AD databases. More about NTDSXtract.
- Responder: Responder is designed for credential gathering by listening for and spoofing LLMNR, NBT-NS, and MDNS broadcasts. This tool is a key asset in network penetration testing for capturing network credentials. More about Responder.
- NetExec: Building on the legacy of CrackMapExec, NetExec offers similar functionalities with current support and expansions. It’s a modernized tool for network exploration and exploitation in AD environments. More about NetExec.
- JtR (John the Ripper): John the Ripper is a fast password-cracking tool essential in testing the strength of passwords in AD environments. It helps in assessing the effectiveness of implemented password policies. More about John the Ripper.
- ZAP (OWASP Zed Attack Proxy): ZAP is widely known in web app penetration testing but also proves effective in identifying vulnerabilities in web services and applications integrated with AD. More about ZAP.
- AD Audit Plus: This tool specializes in auditing, reporting, and monitoring Active Directory environments. It’s instrumental in identifying internal security flaws and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. More about AD Audit Plus.
- AD Triage: Focused on rapid data collection and assessment from live Windows systems, AD Triage is pivotal in investigating cybersecurity incidents in AD environments. More about AD Triage.
- PowerView: A PowerShell tool, PowerView, is utilized to gain network situational awareness in AD environments. It excels in exploring network topologies and domain trust relationships. More about PowerView.
- SharpHound: As a component of the BloodHound suite, SharpHound is the data collector focused on gathering and processing data to map out attack paths within Active Directory. More about SharpHound.
- Rubeus: Rubeus is adept in interacting with the Kerberos protocol, making it a key tool for various ticket-based attacks in AD environments. More about Rubeus.
Conclusion
Maintaining robust security in Active Directory (AD) environments is crucial for any organization, especially considering its widespread use among major corporations. The array of tools and techniques available for AD security testing reflects cybersecurity’s dynamic and challenging landscape. These tools, ranging from BloodHound’s graph-theoretic approach to Mimikatz’s password extraction capabilities and from PowerShell Empire’s post-exploitation framework to PingCastle’s AD infrastructure health checks, each play a vital role in identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening security postures.
The continuous evolution of these tools and techniques mirrors the ongoing battle between cybersecurity professionals and malicious attackers. By employing the same methods as potential attackers, security testers can stay ahead, identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Tools like Impacket, ADRecon, LdapMiner, and DSInternals provide specialized functionalities for interacting with various aspects of AD environments, offering comprehensive insights and audit capabilities.
In essence, the effective use of these tools in regular testing and assessment is key to maintaining a secure and resilient Active Directory environment. As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, so must the strategies and tools used to combat them, ensuring that organizations can protect their critical infrastructure and data against ever-emerging threats.
Contact us if you need your internal enterprise environment tested.
