#44
Attack Path: Active Directory Attack Chain
Description
Implement a dedicated classified attack path for Active Directory environments: Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, AS-REP Roasting, DCSync, NTLM Relay, and lateral movement — the most requested skill in enterprise pentesting.
Why the unclassified fallback isn't enough
AD attacks are multi-step chains where each step's output is the next step's input in a very specific format. The agent must:
- Know the exact attack graph: enumerate SPNs → Kerberoast → crack TGS hashes → authenticate with cracked creds → DCSync → dump domain. Each transition requires understanding Windows authentication internals (NTLM vs Kerberos, TGT vs TGS, NTLMv1 vs NTLMv2 hash formats).
- Handle hash format routing: an NTLMv2 hash from SMB capture needs
hashcat -m 5600, a Kerberos TGS ticket needs-m 13100, a NetNTLMv1 needs-m 5500. Without workflow prompts, the agent picks the wrong hashcat mode and wastes cycles. - Coordinate concurrent Metasploit jobs: LLMNR/NBNS poisoning must run as a background job (
run -j) while the capture server collects hashes simultaneously. The agent needs explicit guidance on job management or it kills one to start the other. - Understand privilege requirements: DCSync requires Domain Admin; AS-REP Roasting requires no auth at all; Kerberoasting requires any domain user. The agent must pick the right attack for its current privilege level, not attempt DCSync from an unprivileged shell.
- Chain lateral movement: after cracking one credential, Pass-the-Hash to other machines using
psexec, then enumerate further. This recursive expand-and-pivot pattern gets lost without structured workflow guidance.
Without a classified chain, the agent tries random AD commands, uses wrong hash formats, doesn't understand the prerequisite chain, and gives up after 2-3 failed attempts.
What already exists
- Metasploit modules for all AD attacks documented in README.ATTACK_PATHS.md (Categories 6.2)
- Hydra brute force chain (credential guessing, but not hash-based attacks)
kali_shelltool with access to Impacket, john, hashcat- Post-exploitation phase with Meterpreter session management
What needs to be built
- New attack path classification:
active_directory_attack - Workflow prompts with the AD kill chain (enumerate → capture → crack → pivot → escalate)
- Hash format detection and automatic hashcat/john mode selection
- Concurrent job management guidance (capture + spoofing running simultaneously)
- Privilege-aware attack selection (what's possible at current access level)
- Lateral movement loop (credential → new host → enumerate → repeat)
- Integration with Impacket tools (secretsdump, GetUserSPNs, GetNPUsers, psexec, wmiexec)
Activity
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