Active Directory Series

Part 1 – Active Directory: Introduction

Active Directory is the backbone of many modern IT infrastructures, offering a powerful set of tools for managing network resources efficiently and securely. We will explore Active Directory and its attacks in-depth in this series.

Imagine a scenario where a large organization needs to manage user accounts and access permissions for hundreds or even thousands of employees. Without AD, this could quickly become a logistical nightmare. However, with Active Directory in place, administrators can efficiently create and manage user accounts, assign permissions, and deploy software updates across the network.

However, this centralization also makes it a prime target for cyberattacks.

Active Directory (AD) provides several authentication methods to verify the identity of users and devices. trying to access network resources.

NTLM protocol

The LAN Manager (LM) and NT LAN Manager (NTLM) protocols used a fragile cryptographic scheme that modern processors could easily crack. Although NTLM which succeeded LM had some security enhancements around the strength of cryptography, it couldn’t provide mutual authentication and smart card authentication services. Due to these weaknesses, Microsoft replaced the LM and NTLM protocols.

Kerberos protocol:

Kerberos provides strong authentication by verifying the identities of users and services within a network. It uses symmetric cryptography to prove the identity of parties involved in the authentication process. Kerberos operates on a ticket-based system. After a user authenticates with a Key Distribution Center (KDC), they receive a time-limited ticket-granting ticket (TGT). This TGT can be used to obtain service tickets for accessing specific services on the network without repeatedly entering their password. This reduces the need for users to remember multiple usernames and passwords.

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol:

The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a widely used application protocol for accessing and managing directory information services. LDAP is designed to provide a standardized way for clients to interact with directory services, which store and organize information about users, devices, resources, and other objects within an organization’s IT infrastructure. LDAP is commonly used in various scenarios. User Authentication, Directory Services, Email Systems, Single Sign-On (SSO) and Access control

We will carry out a thorough analysis of authentication mechanisms in the next chapter.

Part 1 – Active Directory: Introduction Active Directory is the backbone of many modern IT infrastructures, offering a powerful set of tools for managing network resources efficiently and securely. We will explore Active Directory and its attacks in-depth in this series. Imagine a scenario where a large organization needs to manage user accounts and access…