Active Directory Security Assessment
Isolate directory privilege corridors and enforce secure identity zoning. Our elite Active Directory Security Assessment services map complex trust structures, identify vulnerable Group Policy permissions, stress-test Kerberos auth protocols, and block domain takeover attack paths.
"Active Directory Security Assessment is the specialized verification of your enterprise identity forest's permissions, trust layouts, and Kerberos parameters. By graphing logical privilege escalation paths, we identify and secure hidden transition links that lead to Domain Admin takeover."
Active Directory (AD) is the central nerve system of enterprise operations, managing access rights for users, workstations, server systems, and cloud nodes. Because AD builds access relationships dynamically, directories naturally grow into highly complex maps over time. This architectural complexity represents an attacker's primary corridor to a full corporate network takeover.
Our dedicated AD assessment evaluates your directory forest from the inside out. We perform extensive ACL analyses to isolate privilege delegation loops, scan for plaintext passwords in SYSVOL configuration folders, audit Kerberos parameter vulnerabilities (Kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting), and stress-test Domain Controller defenses. The outcome is a secure, tier-isolated directory blueprint.
"Adversaries don't create vulnerabilities; they exploit relationships. Hardening your Active Directory ACLs is what breaks the logical links that turn a compromised office laptop into a domain-wide disaster."
Identity Validation: Securing the Directory Core and Escaping Privilege Loops
Active Directory Trust Visualization
The High Cost of Directory Gaps
Kerberos Parameter Flaws
Vulnerable service account configurations allow low-privilege users to request and crack service ticket (TGS) hashes offline.
Vulnerable GPO Permissions
Loose access controls on Group Policy Objects permit non-admin accounts to write rules, deploying domain-wide execution.
DCSync & Replication Exploits
Unmonitored replication permissions on domain nodes enable attackers to masquerade as Domain Controllers and siphon password databases.
The Evolving Active Directory Threat Landscape
Derived from NIST, CIS & MITRE ATT&CK® Active Directory Matrix
Kerberoasting Attacks
Extracting service ticket hashes (TGS) from domain directories to crack weak service account passwords offline.
AS-REP Roasting Gaps
Targeting domain accounts configured without pre-authentication enabled to pull and crack session hashes offline.
NTLM Relay Poisoning
Relaying multicast LLMNR/NBT-NS authentication attempts to compromise remote servers or gain local admin access.
Overprivileged Admin Groups
Accumulating excessive accounts in high-privilege built-in groups like Domain Admins or Enterprise Admins.
Insecure Domain Trusts
Exploiting weak cross-forest trust configurations to bridge security boundaries and traverse corporate environments.
SYSVOL Credential Leaks
Scanning Group Policy Preferences SYSVOL directories for legacy, plaintext passwords left active in XML configuration files.
Unrestricted LDAP Queries
Allowing unauthenticated or low-privilege clients to query the entire Active Directory database, mapping organizational structures.
Vulnerable GPO Permissions
Permitting non-admin accounts to write or modify Group Policy Objects, leading to rapid, silent domain-wide execution.
Golden & Silver Tickets
Forging Kerberos tickets by exploiting weak or compromised Domain Controller ticket-granting account credentials (KRBTGT).
Unmonitored DCSync Gaps
Exploiting weak replication permissions (GetChanges/GetChangesAll) to extract user password hashes directly from domain controller nodes.
Why Active Directory Security Assessment is Critical
Maintaining a resilient, tiered directory framework requires active simulated validation. Active Directory security assessment isolates credential exposures, hardens object permission ACLs, closes Kerberos authentication gaps, and blocks logical transition links leading to Domain Administrator takeover.
Prevent Domain Takeover Paths
Identify and close privilege loops, insecure object delegating, and GPO permissions that adversaries exploit to escalate to domain control.
Block Kerberos Roasting Corridors
Lock service accounts, enforce pre-authentication, and deploy strong password rules to block offline TGS and AS-REP ticket cracking.
Enforce Secure Tiered Architectures
Implement Microsoft-recommended Tier 0/1/2 administrative isolation models, keeping high-privilege credentials locked on domain controllers.
Satisfy Framework GRC Compliance
Comply with mandatory identity control rules for major regulatory frameworks, including PCI DSS, SOC 2, DPDP, and NIST SP 800-53.
Comprehensive Assessment Scope
Our combined Active Directory security assessment covers the two fundamental pillars of identity forest resilience: comprehensive directory object auditing and active threat path simulation.
Directory Architecture & ACL Auditing
A thorough structural evaluation of Active Directory objects, forest trusts, GPOs, and built-in permissions to isolate privilege loops.
Attack Path & Vulnerability Simulation
Active simulated testing targeting Kerberos parameters, links, and replication privileges to identify domain takeover corridors.
Our Active Directory Methodology
Our structured methodology combines deep directory forest mapping, GPO auditing, Kerberos parameters stress-testing, and simulated DCSync privilege loops to guarantee absolute validation of your domain.
Forest Discovery &
Mapping
We perform passive and active scanning to map all active domain controllers, trust delegation mappings, and forest structures.
GPO & Object
Audit
We analyze object ACLs, search SYSVOL for credentials, and scan GPOs to locate legacy permissions and nested groups.
Kerberos & Roasting
Testing
We physically validate parameters, attempting Kerberoasting and AS-REP roasting to fetch and crack account tickets offline.
Privilege Path
Simulations
We trace BloodHound-style paths, simulating lateral escalations from low-privilege workstations to attempt Domain takeover.
Hardening &
Verification
We supply tiering models and GPO templates to fix gaps, running secondary runs to supply an official VAPT certificate.
What You Receive
We deliver actionable VAPT reports, privilege attack path maps, GPO hardening playbooks, and certified directory attestations.
"Detailed findings of Active Directory forest audits, complete with verified privilege loops, secure GPO rules, and risk scores."
"Detailed findings of Active Directory forest audits, complete with verified privilege loops, secure GPO rules, and risk scores."
Why Choose Arridae
We combine deep directory structural audits with active Kerberos roasting and simulated path testing to eliminate privilege loops within your identity forest.
Expert CERT-In Directory Specialists
Assessments directed strictly by CERT-In accredited AD penetration specialists with years of enterprise identity forest testing experience.
BloodHound-style Privilege Pathing
Advanced mapping of nested administrative groupings, trust delegation linkages, and object permissions to discover silent takeover corridors.
Active Kerberos Roasting Tests
We physically test Kerberos ticket parameters, verifying that TGS and AS-REP requests are locked and protected against offline crack attempts.
Zero Operational Disruptions
All LDAP queries, replication pulls, and domain scans are planned safely with custom scopes to prevent directory replication downtime.
Microsoft Tiering Model Alignments
Providing complete alignment plans with Microsoft Tier 0/1/2 administrative guidelines to permanently isolate directory cores.
Compliance-Ready certified Attestations
Receive certified directory reports that satisfy enterprise audits, proving successful identity access control.
“Active Directory is the nervous system of enterprise access— tiered boundaries and secure ACLs are what keep the system running when perimeter layers are pierced. ”
Harden Active Directory and Isolate Privilege Corridors Today
Active Directory Security Q&A
Commonly asked questions about directory forest VAPT, GPO hardening, Kerberos roasting, and our comprehensive security testing.