Quick Overview
Kerberos is the cornerstone of authentication in Active Directory environments, providing secure, ticket-based access for users and services. This Tier III module dives deep into Kerberos, exploring its inner workings and uncovering the vulnerabilities that make it a prime target during penetration tests. Over the course of two days, you’ll learn how to perform key Kerberos attacks, exploit Active Directory delegation, establish persistence, and execute lateral movement techniques—all while building a thorough understanding of this essential protocol.
Why This Module Matters
Kerberos’s prominence in Active Directory makes it a significant attack surface during internal network assessments. Understanding Kerberos attacks is essential for penetration testers, red teamers, and defenders alike. Misconfigurations in this protocol can lead to devastating privilege escalation, persistence, and lateral movement opportunities for attackers.
What You’ll Learn
This module ensures you grasp the Kerberos protocol at a granular level while equipping you with skills to exploit it effectively:
- Common Kerberos Attacks: From ticket forging to golden ticket attacks.
- Abusing Active Directory Delegation: Leveraging misconfigurations for elevated privileges.
- Persistence with Kerberos: Crafting attacks that endure beyond initial access.
- Lateral Movement Techniques: Navigating the network stealthily with Kerberos tickets.
Hands-On Learning
The module balances theory with practical exercises. Expect hands-on labs that let you exploit real-world misconfigurations, execute advanced attacks, and test your skills in a realistic Active Directory environment. By the time you finish, you’ll have a clear roadmap for attacking Kerberos in live engagements.
Prerequisites
To tackle this module effectively, you should have a foundational understanding of:
- Active Directory basics.
- Enumeration tools like BloodHound.
- Password-cracking techniques.
- Previous experience with OSCP, CRTO, or CRTP modules is advantageous but not mandatory i would say.
Why You Should Take This Module
This module stands out for its depth and clarity. It goes beyond basic Kerberos attacks, revealing the inner workings of the protocol. While rated “hard,” users with a solid grasp of Kerberos fundamentals will find the module approachable, particularly during the skill assessment phase. If you aim to master Active Directory exploitation or prepare for certifications like OSCP, CRTO, or CRTP, this module is indispensable.
Final Thoughts & Rating
Kerberos is one of those topics that seems intimidating at first, but with the right foundation, it can become surprisingly manageable. For me, this module felt straightforward because I already had a solid understanding of Kerberos from my preparation for certifications like OSCP, CRTP, and CRTO. That prior knowledge allowed me to focus on the module’s nuances and apply the techniques without feeling overwhelmed.
While the module is labeled „hard,“ I didn’t find it to be as difficult as expected. The concepts clicked quickly, and the skill assessment, in particular, felt relatively simple compared to medium-tier challenges I’ve faced. It was well-designed, but if you already understand Kerberos attacks and their mechanics, you’ll likely breeze through it.
Rating: 10/10
Even though I found it easier than anticipated, this module still impressed me with its depth and quality. It didn’t just cover the basics but went deeper into Kerberos attacks, persistence techniques, and lateral movement strategies, providing insights I hadn’t seen before. The combination of detailed explanations and hands-on labs reinforced my knowledge and gave me new perspectives on how Kerberos operates in real-world scenarios.
Pro Tip:
If you’re new to Kerberos, I highly recommend taking the time to thoroughly understand the authentication process, ticketing system, and encryption mechanisms. For those with prior experience, like I had, this module will feel more like a comprehensive refresher with a few new twists rather than an overwhelming challenge.
Completing this module gave me a renewed appreciation for how Kerberos vulnerabilities can be exploited during red team engagements. If you’re preparing for certifications or want to sharpen your Active Directory exploitation skills, this module is invaluable. 10/10 Despite its “hard” label, I’d strongly recommend it, especially if you already have a strong foundation in the subject.
For those interested, here’s a look at the exam table of contents:
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