Top 10 Active Directory Attack Methods Explained | Techniques & Mitigations (2026 Guide)

Key takeaways

• Common attacks include Kerberoasting, password spraying, LLMNR poisoning and pass-the-hash.
• Default and hard-coded credentials are an easy win for attackers.
• Use strong, unique passwords, and disable LLMNR where it is not needed.

Table of Contents

• 1. Kerberoasting
• 2. Password Spraying
• 3. Local Loop Multicast Name Resolution (LLMNR) / NBT-NS Poisoning
• 4. Pass-the-Hash with Mimikatz
• 5. Default Credentials
• 6. Hard-Coded Credentials
• 7. Privilege Escalation
• 8. LDAP Reconnaissance
• 9. BloodHound Reconnaissance
• 10. NTDS.dit Extraction
• Conclusion

As cyber threats continue to evolve, attackers increasingly target Active Directory (AD), the heart of identity and access management in enterprise environments. Active Directory is used by over 90% of Fortune 1000 companies, making it a prime target for hackers aiming to move laterally, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data.

Understanding the most common attack techniques against Active Directory is essential for cybersecurity professionals, red teamers, and network defenders. Below, we explore the Top 10 Active Directory Attack Methods as shown in the infographic.

 1. Kerberoasting

Kerberoasting is a post-exploitation technique where attackers extract service account tickets (TGS) and crack them offline to retrieve plaintext passwords. Since service accounts often have elevated privileges, gaining access to one can lead to domain dominance.

• Tool Examples: Rubeus, Impacket

• Mitigation: Use complex service account passwords and avoid using Domain Admin privileges.

 2. Password Spraying

Unlike brute-force attacks that target a single account with multiple passwords, password spraying tests a single password across many accounts. This method avoids account lockouts and remains under the radar.

• Tool Examples: CrackMapExec, Hydra

• Mitigation: Enable MFA, monitor failed login attempts, and set lockout policies.

3. Local Loop Multicast Name Resolution (LLMNR) / NBT-NS Poisoning

LLMNR and NetBIOS Name Service (NBT-NS) allow name resolution without DNS. Attackers poison these protocols to redirect traffic and harvest NTLM hashes, which can then be cracked offline.

• Tool Examples: Responder, Inveigh

• Mitigation: Disable LLMNR/NBT-NS and enforce DNS resolution.

 4. Pass-the-Hash with Mimikatz

This technique allows attackers to authenticate using a password hash instead of plaintext credentials. Tools like Mimikatz extract NTLM hashes, which can be reused without cracking.

• Mitigation: Use local admin account isolation (LAPS), monitor lateral movement, and enforce SMB signing.

 5. Default Credentials

Many systems are deployed with default usernames and passwords (e.g., admin/admin). Attackers exploit this misconfiguration to gain initial access or pivot through the network.

• Mitigation: Change all default credentials immediately after installation, and audit systems regularly.

 6. Hard-Coded Credentials

Developers sometimes embed credentials within application source code or configuration files. These "hard-coded secrets" can be extracted and used to access critical systems.

• Mitigation: Use secret management tools and scan repositories for exposed credentials.

 7. Privilege Escalation

After initial access, attackers seek to escalate privileges using techniques such as exploiting misconfigured services, DLL hijacking, or token manipulation to gain Domain Admin rights.

• Tool Examples: PowerUp, WinPEAS

• Mitigation: Apply least privilege principles and patch known privilege escalation vulnerabilities.

 8. LDAP Reconnaissance

LDAP queries allow attackers to gather detailed information about domain users, groups, computers, and permissions, which is a key step for planning further attacks.

• Tool Examples: BloodHound, ADFind

• Mitigation: Limit read access in AD and monitor for unusual LDAP queries.

 9. BloodHound Reconnaissance

BloodHound is a powerful tool used by red teamers to map Active Directory relationships and identify privilege escalation paths using graph theory.

• Mitigation: Regularly audit AD group memberships and clean up stale accounts.

 10. NTDS.dit Extraction

The NTDS.dit file is the Active Directory database that stores password hashes. If attackers gain access to a Domain Controller, they can extract this file to crack all user passwords offline.

• Tool Examples: ntdsutil, secretsdump.py

• Mitigation: Limit access to Domain Controllers, enable logging, and use read-only DCs where possible.

Conclusion

Active Directory remains a prime target due to its central role in user and resource management. Defenders need to understand these attack vectors to build resilient architectures, and ethical hackers need them to test and secure enterprise environments.

Stay ahead by learning these techniques in a lab environment and applying mitigation strategies before attackers do.

To take this further with guided labs and an instructor, see our Certified SOC Analyst training.

Related reading

• What is LDAP Injection in Symfony and How Can You Prevent It?
• Top 10 Active Directory Attack Methods Explained with Real-World Examples and How to Protect Your AD Infrastructure in 2026
• What are the most dangerous Active Directory misconfigurations and how can they be prevented?

Reference

For the authoritative details, see MITRE ATT&CK.