GhostPack: Red Team Tactics for Active Directory Exploitation and Defense

Active Directory (AD) remains a prime target for attackers due to its central role in enterprise authentication and authorization. GhostPack, a suite of offensive security tools developed in C#, provides red teams with specialized capabilities to assess AD security by exploiting misconfigurations in Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) and other critical components. This article explores GhostPack’s key tools, attack methodologies, and defensive countermeasures without detailing exploit steps—ensuring compliance with responsible disclosure principles.

Understanding GhostPack’s Role in Active Directory Security Testing

GhostPack is a collection of post-exploitation tools designed for red team engagements, with a focus on Windows environments and Active Directory. Developed by security researcher Will Schroeder (@harmj0y), the framework includes utilities like Certify for AD CS exploitation, Rubeus for Kerberos attacks, and Seatbelt for host reconnaissance. These tools are widely used in penetration testing to simulate advanced adversary tradecraft, particularly in certificate-based attacks.

For enterprises, understanding GhostPack’s capabilities is critical for both offensive and defensive security teams. Red teams leverage these tools to identify privilege escalation paths, while blue teams use insights from GhostPack-based attacks to harden AD configurations and improve monitoring.

Key Tools in the GhostPack Framework

The following table outlines GhostPack’s core tools and their applications in security assessments:

Tool	Purpose
Certify	Enumerates and exploits misconfigured AD CS certificate templates (e.g., ESC1, ESC4 vulnerabilities).
Rubeus	Performs Kerberos ticket manipulation, including golden/silver ticket attacks.
SharpUp	Identifies local privilege escalation opportunities in Windows systems.
Seatbelt	Collects system reconnaissance data to assess security posture.

Defensive Strategies Against GhostPack-Based Attacks

To mitigate risks posed by GhostPack, organizations should prioritize the following measures:

Monitor Certificate Requests: Detect anomalous enrollment activity, especially requests with alternate identities.
Harden AD CS: Restrict enrollment permissions and disable dangerous template settings (e.g., ENROLLEE_SUPPLIES_SUBJECT).
Audit ACLs: Regularly review permissions on certificate templates and CA objects.

Relevance to Security Professionals

GhostPack’s tools reflect real-world adversary techniques, making them invaluable for:

Red Teams: Simulating advanced AD attacks to test detection and response capabilities.
Blue Teams: Developing detection rules for certificate-based privilege escalation.
Threat Researchers: Analyzing trends in AD exploitation methodologies.

Conclusion

GhostPack provides a powerful framework for assessing Active Directory security, particularly in environments leveraging AD CS. While red teams use these tools to uncover vulnerabilities, defenders must focus on hardening certificate services and monitoring for suspicious activity. By understanding both offensive and defensive perspectives, organizations can better protect their AD infrastructure.