Enumerating AD Users
Last updated
Last updated
can be a stealthier option for domain account enumeration. It takes advantage of the fact that Kerberos pre-authentication failures often will not trigger logs or alerts. We will use Kerbrute in conjunction with the jsmith.txt or jsmith2.txt user lists from . This repository contains many different user lists that can be extremely useful when attempting to enumerate users when starting from an unauthenticated perspective. We can point Kerbrute at the DC we found earlier and feed it a wordlist. The tool is quick, and we will be provided with results letting us know if the accounts found are valid or not, which is a great starting point for launching attacks such as password spraying, which we will cover in-depth later in this module.
To get started with Kerbrute, we can download for the tool for testing from Linux, Windows, and Mac, or we can compile it ourselves. This is generally the best practice for any tool we introduce into a client environment. To compile the binaries to use on the system of our choosing, we first clone the repo:
Cloning Kerbrute GitHub Repo
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
Typing make help will show us the compiling options available.
Listing Compiling Options
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
We can choose to compile just one binary or type make all and compile one each for use on Linux, Windows, and Mac systems (an x86 and x64 version for each).
Compiling for Multiple Platforms and Architectures
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
The newly created dist directory will contain our compiled binaries.
Listing the Compiled Binaries in dist
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
We can then test out the binary to make sure it works properly. We will be using the x64 version on the supplied Parrot Linux attack host in the target environment.
Testing the kerbrute_linux_amd64 Binary
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
We can add the tool to our PATH to make it easily accessible from anywhere on the host.
Adding the Tool to our Path
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
Moving the Binary
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
We can now type kerbrute from any location on the system and will be able to access the tool. Feel free to follow along on your system and practice the above steps. Now let's run through an example of using the tool to gather an initial username list.
Enumerating Users with Kerbrute
Initial Enumeration of the Domain
We can see from our output that we validated 56 users in the INLANEFREIGHT.LOCAL domain and it took only a few seconds to do so. Now we can take these results and build a list for use in targeted password spraying attacks.
There are several ways to gain SYSTEM-level access on a host, including but not limited to:
Remote Windows exploits such as MS08-067, EternalBlue, or BlueKeep.
Local privilege escalation flaws in Windows operating systems such as the Windows 10 Task Scheduler 0-day.
Gaining admin access on a domain-joined host with a local account and using Psexec to launch a SYSTEM cmd window
By gaining SYSTEM-level access on a domain-joined host, you will be able to perform actions such as, but not limited to:
Enumerate the domain using built-in tools or offensive tools such as BloodHound and PowerView.
Perform Kerberoasting / ASREPRoasting attacks within the same domain.
Run tools such as Inveigh to gather Net-NTLMv2 hashes or perform SMB relay attacks.
Perform token impersonation to hijack a privileged domain user account.
Carry out ACL attacks.
Keep the scope and style of the test in mind when choosing a tool for use. If you are performing a non-evasive penetration test, with everything out in the open and the customer's staff knowing you are there, it doesn't typically matter how much noise you make. However, during an evasive penetration test, adversarial assessment, or red team engagement, you are trying to mimic a potential attacker's Tools, Tactics, and Procedures. With that in mind, stealth is of concern. Throwing Nmap at an entire network is not exactly quiet, and many of the tools we commonly use on a penetration test will trigger alarms for an educated and prepared SOC or Blue Teamer. Always be sure to clarify the goal of your assessment with the client in writing before it begins.
The account NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM is a built-in account in Windows operating systems. It has the highest level of access in the OS and is used to run most Windows services. It is also very common for third-party services to run in the context of this account by default. A SYSTEM account on a domain-joined host will be able to enumerate Active Directory by impersonating the computer account, which is essentially just another kind of user account. Having SYSTEM-level access within a domain environment is nearly equivalent to having a domain user account.
Abusing a service running in the context of the SYSTEM account, or abusing the service account SeImpersonate privileges using . This type of attack is possible on older Windows OS' but not always possible with Windows Server 2019.