Top Active Directory Attack Techniques in 2025 and How to Stop Them | The Detailed Guide

Table of Contents

• What Makes Active Directory a Target?
• Common Attack Techniques and Their Fixes
• Real-World Example
• Why This Matters in 2025
• Best Practices for Defending Active Directory
• Conclusion
•  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Active Directory (AD) is like the master key to a company's IT environment. If attackers gain access to AD, they can take control of user accounts, servers, and sensitive data. In 2025, attackers continue to rely on proven methods to exploit AD weaknesses. This blog explains the most common Active Directory attack techniques and offers simple, practical ways to defend against them.

What Makes Active Directory a Target?

AD stores and manages login credentials, permissions, and access to almost all digital resources in a business. If an attacker compromises AD, they can:

• Log in as anyone

  
  

• Steal sensitive files

• Disable security tools

• Create hidden admin accounts

That's why protecting AD is a top priority for cybersecurity professionals.

Common Attack Techniques and Their Fixes

Kerberoasting

Attackers request Kerberos service tickets and extract service account credentials from them offline.

How to prevent it:
Use long, random passwords for service accounts or switch to Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSAs). Watch for Event ID 4769 surges.

Password Spraying

This method uses a few common passwords on many accounts to avoid triggering account lockouts.

How to prevent it:
Enforce strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and detect multiple failed logins from one IP address (Event ID 4625).

LLMNR and NBT-NS Poisoning

On a local network, attackers trick systems into sharing credentials through spoofed name resolutions.

How to prevent it:
Disable LLMNR and NetBIOS through Group Policy. Enable SMB signing to prevent credential relays.

Pass-the-Hash with Mimikatz

Attackers steal NTLM hashes from memory and reuse them without needing the original password.

How to prevent it:
Enable LSA Credential Guard, prefer Kerberos over NTLM, and isolate admin systems from regular workstations.

Default Credentials

Devices or applications left with default usernames and passwords are an easy target.

How to prevent it:
Change all default logins immediately upon setup. Use scanners to find and fix forgotten credentials.

Hard-Coded Credentials

Developers sometimes store passwords inside scripts, code, or Group Policy Preferences.

How to prevent it:
Scan for exposed secrets using tools like GitGuardian, move them to secure vaults (e.g., CyberArk), and delete old GPP files.

Privilege Escalation

Attackers take advantage of weak file or service permissions to gain admin rights.

How to prevent it:
Use BloodHound in defensive mode to find risky privilege paths. Apply the principle of least privilege across the network.

LDAP and LDAPS Reconnaissance

LDAP queries help attackers map users, computers, and group memberships.

How to prevent it:
Monitor LDAP queries (Event ID 1644), limit anonymous reads, and use Microsoft Defender for Identity for detection.

BloodHound Reconnaissance

The BloodHound tool scans Active Directory to discover attack paths to privileged accounts.

How to prevent it:
Detect SharpHound activity via your EDR solution. Run BloodHound internally to find and close dangerous privilege paths.

NTDS.dit Extraction

Attackers extract the AD database file (NTDS.dit) and crack every password offline.

How to prevent it:
Restrict backup rights on Domain Controllers, monitor tools like vssadmin and ntdsutil, and encrypt backups.

Real-World Example

In a recent penetration test, a red team gained domain admin access within 2 hours by exploiting Kerberoasting and Pass-the-Hash. None of the accounts used MFA, and service accounts had simple passwords. These were easily cracked offline and used to pivot across the domain.

Quick Defense Summary Table

Why This Matters in 2025

• Attackers are getting faster, more automated, and more targeted.

• Many AD attacks rely on old habits—weak passwords, misconfigurations, and outdated protocols.

• Free tools like BloodHound and Mimikatz are accessible to anyone.

Best Practices for Defending Active Directory

• Disable unnecessary protocols like NTLM and LLMNR.

• Use MFA on all privileged accounts.

• Monitor Event IDs related to Kerberos, LDAP, and login failures.

• Use endpoint detection (EDR) to catch tools like Mimikatz and SharpHound.

• Periodically simulate attacks in a safe lab to stay one step ahead.

Conclusion

Active Directory is the heart of your IT ecosystem. Securing it should never be optional. By applying these strategies proactively, you can reduce risk, harden defenses, and protect your organization from real-world AD threats.

If you’d like a downloadable checklist or access to an AD lab to test these techniques safely, let us know—we’re happy to help.

FAQ:

What is Active Directory?

Active Directory is a Microsoft system that manages users, computers, and access rights within a network.

Why do hackers target Active Directory?

Because controlling Active Directory gives attackers access to the entire network, including users, files, and admin accounts.

What is Kerberoasting in Active Directory?

It’s a technique where attackers extract service tickets and crack them offline to steal service account passwords.

How can I prevent Kerberoasting attacks?

Use long, complex service account passwords or gMSA accounts and monitor TGS requests using Event ID 4769.

What is password spraying?

An attacker tries a few common passwords on many accounts to avoid detection and lockouts.

How do I defend against password spraying?

Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), strong password policies, and monitor failed logins from the same IP.

What is LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning?

It’s a network attack where fake name resolution tricks devices into sending NTLM credentials to an attacker.

How do I stop LLMNR and NetBIOS poisoning?

Disable LLMNR and NetBIOS via Group Policy and enable SMB signing.

What is Pass-the-Hash?

Pass-the-Hash is when attackers use stolen NTLM hashes to log in to systems without needing the actual password.

How do I prevent Pass-the-Hash attacks?

Use Credential Guard, restrict NTLM use, and limit access to sensitive admin workstations.

What are default credentials?

Default credentials are pre-set usernames and passwords like "admin/admin" that are often left unchanged.

Why are default credentials dangerous?

Attackers often scan for devices still using factory settings, which can lead to easy compromises.

What are hard-coded credentials?

These are passwords stored inside scripts or configuration files, which anyone with access can read.

How do I handle hard-coded credentials safely?

Scan for exposed secrets and use a secure vault system to store credentials.

What is privilege escalation?

It’s when a user gains unauthorized elevated access, often moving from a basic user to domain admin.

How do attackers escalate privileges in AD?

They exploit misconfigured permissions, services, or objects with excessive rights.

How can I prevent privilege escalation?

Audit permissions with tools like BloodHound and apply least-privilege principles.

What is LDAP reconnaissance?

Attackers use LDAP queries to collect details about users, computers, and groups in AD.

How can I detect LDAP reconnaissance?

Monitor for high-volume LDAP queries and limit anonymous directory access.

What is BloodHound in cybersecurity?

BloodHound is a tool that maps privilege relationships and attack paths in Active Directory environments.

How do I stop BloodHound-based attacks?

Detect use of SharpHound scripts and fix weak access control paths before attackers exploit them.

What is NTDS.dit in Active Directory?

It’s the AD database file containing user account details and password hashes.

Why do attackers target NTDS.dit?

If stolen, it allows attackers to crack all user passwords offline and compromise the entire domain.

How do I protect the NTDS.dit file?

Restrict access to backup tools, monitor for suspicious backup activity, and encrypt sensitive files.

What is SharpHound?

It’s the data collector tool used by BloodHound to gather information about AD permissions and paths.

How can I detect SharpHound activity?

Look for unusual PowerShell or executable behavior related to directory enumeration.

Why is MFA important for AD security?

MFA makes it harder for attackers to use stolen passwords or hashes to gain access.

What are common AD event IDs to monitor?

Event IDs 4625, 4769, and 1644 are critical for detecting brute-force, Kerberos, and LDAP activity.

How often should AD be audited?

Audit your Active Directory at least quarterly and monitor critical changes in real-time.

Are small businesses vulnerable to AD attacks?

Yes, attackers often target small companies with weaker defenses and default configurations.