For attackers, Active Directory is an ideal hiding spot from security teams and their standard tools. Once they infiltrate the system, hackers utilize specialized tools to map out the entire Active Directory environment. This allows them to pinpoint valuable resources, critical systems, and privileged user accounts that they can exploit to their benefit.

Active Directories are popular points of attack because they are widely used by organizations to manage user and computer access to corporate resources. Every computer on the corporate network must have access to Active Directory for the network environment to function properly, making it a central point of control. This widespread reliance simplifies a hacker's job, as gaining access to Active Directory can provide extensive control over the entire network and its resources.

Hackers find Active Directory admin accounts particularly interesting because administrators usually have extended privileges that allow them to create and configure domains, retrieve data, and access protected areas. By misusing existing credentials, such as an admin account, hackers can gain extensive control over the network and remain undetected for a long time, making it easier to exploit the system and access valuable resources.

Hackers use a variety of techniques and tools to look for administrator accounts in an Active Directory. Here are some common methods:

Techniques

1. Reconnaissance and Enumeration
   • LDAP Queries: Hackers use Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) queries to gather information about the directory structure, user accounts, and group memberships.
   • Net Commands: Using commands like net user and net group, attackers can list user accounts and their group memberships.
2. Password Spraying
   • This technique involves trying a few common passwords against many accounts to avoid account lockouts and detect weak passwords.
3. Credential Dumping
   • Hackers dump credentials from memory or local storage using tools like Mimikatz to obtain hashed or clear-text passwords of administrator accounts.
4. Pass-the-Hash and Pass-the-Ticket Attacks
   • Using hashed passwords (NTLM hashes) or Kerberos tickets obtained from compromised accounts to authenticate as administrators without knowing the actual password.
5. Privilege Escalation
   • Exploiting vulnerabilities or misconfigurations to escalate privileges from a lower-level account to an administrator account.

Tools

1. Mimikatz
   • A powerful tool used to extract plaintext passwords, hashes, PIN codes, and Kerberos tickets from memory.
2. BloodHound
   • An Active Directory (AD) enumeration tool that maps out relationships and privileges, helping attackers identify paths to escalate privileges.
3. PowerView
   • A PowerShell tool that aids in gathering information about the AD environment, including users, groups, and permissions.
4. Responder
   • A tool used to capture credentials by tricking systems into authenticating against a rogue server controlled by the attacker.
5. Metasploit
   • A penetration testing framework that includes various modules for Active Directory attacks, including enumeration and credential dumping.
6. Kerbrute
   • A tool used for brute-forcing and enumerating valid Active Directory user accounts through Kerberos Pre-Authentication.
7. SharpHound
   • A data collector used by BloodHound to gather information about the Active Directory environment for analysis.
8. CrackMapExec
   • A post-exploitation tool that helps in network reconnaissance and exploitation of Active Directory environments.

By using these techniques and tools, hackers can effectively search for and exploit administrator accounts within an Active Directory environment, often remaining undetected for long periods.

When CyberTrap Active Directory Deception is active, attackers are cleverly redirected into a deception environment through the use of fake credentials. Here's how it works:

When a hacker scans the network for admin accounts, they receive fake credentials specifically designed to appear legitimate. Once the attacker uses these fake credentials, they are automatically redirected into a meticulously crafted replica of the corporate network, known as the deception environment. This environment mimics the real network, ensuring the attacker is unaware of the switch.

Within this deception environment, the attacker can interact with what they believe are genuine systems and data, allowing them to continue their activities undetected. Meanwhile, the IT administrator in charge is immediately notified of the attack. This setup not only isolates the attacker, preventing any real damage to the actual network, but also allows for the monitoring and analysis of the attacker's behavior, providing valuable threat intelligence.

The credentials that the attacker receives are intended for actual systems with real operating systems and services, the so-called traps (decoys). These decoys are meticulously designed to be indistinguishable from legitimate systems within the corporate network.

As a result, the attacker cannot determine whether these credentials are real or fake because they do not differ in any way from genuine credentials. The decoys respond as real systems would, providing the attacker with a seamless and convincing experience. This meticulous replication ensures that the attacker remains unaware of the deception, allowing them to proceed with their activities as if they were interacting with actual network assets.