Many organizations worldwide utilize Active Directory to deliver network services so that users and computers may authenticate and authorize access to network resources or log on to Windows systems. However, fraudsters also benefit from the Microsoft directory service by exploiting frequent misconfigurations to gain network ownership.
Why is Active Directory so appealing to cybercriminals?
Once attackers obtain access to a company’s Active Directory, they have established a gateway to the rest of the network, allowing them to steal sensitive data and gradually gain greater rights. From the standpoint of hackers, AD is also ideal for ransomware attacks because users and machines rely on AD to access various network services. Hackers can cause havoc swiftly by encrypting or exfiltrating crucial data.
The ransomware does not encrypt Active Directory but accesses and encrypts associated hosts and domain-connected systems through AD. Lock Bit 2.0 and BlackMatter are two well-known ransomware families that target AD. In a conventional AD ransomware attack, the attackers try to get network access by fishing for credentials, upgrading their privileges, and advancing vertically through the web of servers. The purpose is to get administrative access to and compromise a domain controller. Domain controllers host a copy of Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), a schema that contains all of the objects stored in Active Directory and for which authorization and authentication services are provided.
4 Active Directory Risk Reduction Strategies
Because of different misconfigurations that the attackers are aware of, cybercriminals might launch deadly attacks using AD. To eliminate these, security teams must devise a comprehensive Active Directory security plan covering various issues. The danger of AD breaches can be lowered in the long run if the four suggestions below are implemented.
1. Do Not Add Domain Users To The Local Administrators Group.
Hackers love misconfigurations and networked systems with Domain users in the “Local Administrator” group. They use these to roam networks, raising their privileges and snooping on key credentials. Assume an attacker gains access to a Windows endpoint as a local administrator. In that instance, they can utilize the compromised system or account to perform network changes, elevate full domain administrator capabilities, and turn off all security settings.
As a result, IT teams should avoid adding domain users to the Local Administrators group in the first place, opting instead for least privilege or just-in-time access controls. This guarantees that administrators are closely monitored and that extended rights are only issued when necessary. Furthermore, scanning is required to discover and eradicate possible misconfigurations early and continually.
2. Make a backup of your Remote Desktop Log
The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is another popular entryway for cybercriminals. The frequency of assaults against RDP systems has increased dramatically, particularly since the start of the epidemic and the unexpected widespread use of remote work. This is primarily due to poor password hygiene, which allows attackers to easily brute-force credentials for endpoints over the Remote Desktop Protocol and acquire complete access to a remote system.
Users who use the same password for their work Active Directory account, other accounts, and normal Internet services are at risk once the attacker has gained remote access to the victim’s system and established a presence in the victim’s environment.
Using robust multi-factor authentication and particular privileged access security is one of the most effective techniques to fight against RDP brute force attacks.
3. Prevent Multiple Domain Admin Account Uses
System administrators’ multiple uses of domain admin accounts – for service accounts, setting up remote access to systems, or automating backups – is a hazardous yet common vulnerability in many Active Directory installations. While this is useful, it also serves as an access point for hackers, making the transition from local admin to FULL DOMAIN admin easier.
An attacker waits for the domain administrator to connect to a system where he already has local administrator privileges. The hacker next updates the hacked system’s registry, which saves a cached credential in plain text. He now waited and periodically visited the server remotely to see if the domain admin left a password trace that could be recovered in plain text.
Because the attacker has local administrator rights on the vulnerable server, he can turn off security, run Mimikatz as a privileged user, and thus read the domain admin password in plain text.
As a result, it is critical to prevent over-privileged users from gaining local administrator privileges on all systems. Endpoint application restrictions must also be in place to prevent unauthorized apps such as Mimikatz from running, even if an attacker has local administrator credentials. The registry settings should also be permanently altered so attackers cannot extract passwords in plain text.
4. Make use of Active Directory Bridging.
Active Directory Bridging is a feature that allows users to use AD credentials to access non-Windows operating systems. Active Directory can easily interact with Linux, Windows, and Unix IT systems and devices. The security of AD benefits from this as well because it prevents the development of local identities.
Because users authenticate to all plans using their Active Directory identities, the attack surface is greatly reduced because attackers have fewer access points. At the same time, it facilitates reporting on access policy compliance.
Furthermore, bridging contributes to developing a unified Privileged Access Management (PAM) approach that includes centralized, cross-platform management of access policies, zero-trust access, permissions control, and identity consolidation.
Conclusion
Active Directory is critical for securing system and file access. Poor management and misconfigurations continue to be frequent, making it easy for attackers to access vital systems and insert dangerous payloads such as ransomware. This emphasizes the importance of prioritizing privileged access to Active Directory and implementing a security policy based on a thorough risk assessment of the organization.
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