Last Updated on August 7, 2025 by Arnav Sharma
Active Directory (AD) is a prime target for cyber attackers due to the critical role it plays in providing essential authentication and authorization services within a Microsoft environment. Protecting the security of your Active Directory is vital to safeguarding sensitive data, user accounts, and the overall integrity of your IT infrastructure. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 Active Directory attacks, common attack methods, and best practices for enhancing Active Directory security.
1. Password Spraying
Password spraying is a common Active Directory attack where attackers attempt to gain access to accounts by trying a few common passwords across many user accounts. This method avoids account lockout mechanisms typically triggered by multiple failed login attempts on a single account.
Mitigation: Implement strict password policies, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and monitor login attempts for unusual patterns.
2. Pass-the-Hash (PtH) Attacks
Pass-the-Hash attacks exploit the NTLM authentication protocol by allowing attackers to use stolen password hashes to authenticate as a user without knowing their actual password. This can lead to privilege escalation and widespread compromise within an Active Directory environment.
Mitigation: Use strong, unique passwords, disable NTLM where possible, and employ MFA to mitigate the risk of hash exploitation.
3. Kerberoasting
Kerberoasting involves requesting service tickets for service accounts from the Kerberos ticket-granting service and then cracking the service ticket offline to retrieve the plaintext password.
Mitigation: Regularly update service account passwords, use strong passwords, and monitor for unusual ticket-granting service requests.
4. Golden Ticket Attacks
A Golden Ticket attack involves compromising the Kerberos Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) to create valid TGTs for any user, including domain admins, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to an AD environment.
Mitigation: Secure and monitor domain controllers, regularly update and monitor privileged access, and enforce strong authentication protocols.
5. BloodHound
BloodHound is a tool that attackers use to map out attack paths in Active Directory environments by analyzing relationships and permissions between AD objects. This tool helps identify potential paths to escalate privileges.
Mitigation: Regularly review and tighten permissions, use the principle of least privilege, and monitor for unusual access patterns.
6. Mimikatz
Mimikatz is a tool commonly used to extract plaintext passwords, password hashes, PINs, and Kerberos tickets from memory. Attackers can use these credentials to gain access to other parts of the network.
Mitigation: Apply the latest security patches, enable Credential Guard, and restrict local administrator access.
7. Pass-the-Ticket (PtT) Attacks
In Pass-the-Ticket attacks, attackers use stolen Kerberos tickets to authenticate to services without needing to know the user’s password. This can lead to unauthorized access and privilege escalation.
Mitigation: Regularly update Kerberos tickets, enforce MFA, and monitor for unusual ticket usage.
8. Directory Replication Service (DRS) Abuse
Attackers exploit the Microsoft Directory Replication Service to extract password hashes and other sensitive data from Active Directory. This can lead to a complete domain compromise.
Mitigation: Secure domain controllers, monitor replication traffic, and enforce strong authentication for replication requests.
9. NTLM Relay Attacks
NTLM relay attacks occur when an attacker intercepts NTLM authentication requests and relays them to a legitimate server, gaining unauthorized access.
Mitigation: Disable NTLM where possible, enforce SMB signing, and use Extended Protection for Authentication (EPA).
10. Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks involve systematically guessing passwords until the correct one is found. This method can be used to gain unauthorized access to AD accounts.
Mitigation: Implement account lockout policies, enforce strong password requirements, and use MFA to reduce the risk of successful brute force attacks.
Best Practices for Enhancing Active Directory Security
To secure your Active Directory environment effectively, consider the following best practices:
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits of AD accounts, permissions, and group memberships to ensure compliance with security policies.
- Monitor and Alert: Use monitoring tools to detect and alert on suspicious activity, such as unusual login attempts or privilege escalation.
- Patch Management: Keep all systems and software up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities.
- Strong Authentication: Enforce multi-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords for all accounts, especially privileged accounts.
- Least Privilege Principle: Limit permissions to the minimum necessary for users to perform their roles, reducing the attack surface.
- Secure Service Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for service accounts and regularly update them.
- Training and Awareness: Educate users on security best practices and the importance of protecting their credentials.
- Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly test an incident response plan to quickly address and mitigate any security breaches.