Devenez un gros CRACK de l'AD (pour mieux le CASSER)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a foundational understanding of Active Directory (AD), which is crucial for anyone interested in cybersecurity and understanding how to effectively manage and secure networked environments. By grasping the core concepts of AD, you'll be better equipped to explore more advanced topics, including potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.

Step 1: Understanding Active Directory

• Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks.
• It stores information about members of the domain, including devices and users.
• Key functions of AD include authentication, authorization, and directory services.

Step 2: Key Entities in Active Directory

• Users: Individual accounts used to access resources.
• Computers: Devices that are part of the network, managed within AD.
• Groups: Collections of users or computers that simplify permission management.
• Organizational Units (OUs): Containers used to organize users, groups, and devices for easier management.

Step 3: Understanding Security Groups

• Security groups are used to manage permissions for multiple users.
• Types of security groups:
  • Domain Local Groups: Used to manage access to resources in the domain.
  • Global Groups: Can include users from the same domain and are used for granting permissions across domains.
  • Universal Groups: Can include users from any domain in the forest and are useful for cross-domain access.

Step 4: Group Policy Objects and Access Control Lists

• Group Policy Objects (GPOs): Used to manage user and computer settings within AD. They can enforce security settings and software installations.
• Access Control Lists (ACLs): Define which users or groups have permission to access specific resources.
• Access Control Entries (ACEs): Individual entries in an ACL specifying permissions for a user or group.

Step 5: Delegation of Control

• Delegation allows you to assign specific permissions for certain tasks to users or groups.
• Use delegation to manage permissions without giving full administrative rights.
• Steps to delegate control:
  • Right-click on the OU or object in AD.
  • Select "Delegate Control" and follow the wizard to assign permissions.

Step 6: Authentication Methods

• Kerberos: A network authentication protocol designed to provide strong authentication for client/server applications.
• NTLM: An older authentication protocol used in Windows networks, primarily in environments where Kerberos is not available.
• Understand the differences:
  • Kerberos uses tickets for authentication.
  • NTLM relies on hashing passwords.

Step 7: Active Directory Protocols

• Familiarize yourself with the protocols used in AD:
  • LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol): Used to query and modify directory services.
  • SMB (Server Message Block): Provides shared access to files, printers, and serial ports.
  • Kerberos: As mentioned, for secure authentication.

Step 8: Structure of Active Directory

• Tree: A collection of one or more domains.
• Forest: A collection of trees that share a common schema.
• Trust Relationships: Define the relationships between different domains, allowing users in one domain to access resources in another.

Conclusion

Understanding the basics of Active Directory is essential for anyone interested in cybersecurity. By familiarizing yourself with its structure, key entities, authentication methods, and management protocols, you lay a solid groundwork for further exploration into AD vulnerabilities and security practices. As a next step, consider diving into specific attack methodologies related to AD to enhance your knowledge and skills in the field.