Active Directory Basics - TryHackMe Walkthrough — ComplexSec (2023)

FAQs

What are the basics of Active Directory? ›

#1 What database does the AD DS contain? Contains the NTDS. dit — a database that contains all of the information of an Active Directory domain controller as well as password hashes for domain users.

We can also use enum4linux on port 139/445 to enumerate the NetBIOS for information such as the existing usernames, NetBIOS-Domain Name, SID, etc.

AD DS provides for security certificates, Single Sign-On (SSO), LDAP, and rights management.

AD DS is the central database without which user and resource management in your business network would not be possible. In contrast to Azure AD, which is a cloud service and thus does not require local infrastructure, on-premises Active Directory employs a hierarchical framework.

In short, a client sends a request for information stored within an LDAP database along with the user's credentials to an LDAP server. The LDAP server then authenticates the credentials submitted by the user against their core user identity, which is stored in the LDAP database.

Active Directory event logging tool

You can open the Event Viewer by clicking on : Start → System security → Administrative tools → Event viewer. Event Viewer classifies the events as below: Error: A significant problem, such as loss of data or loss of functionality.

How do I check AD user logs? ›

Port 139: SMB originally ran on top of NetBIOS using port 139. NetBIOS is an older transport layer that allows Windows computers to talk to each other on the same network. Port 445: Later versions of SMB (after Windows 2000) began to use port 445 on top of a TCP stack. Using TCP allows SMB to work over the internet.

Port 445 is a traditional Microsoft networking port with tie-ins to the original NetBIOS service found in earlier versions of Windows OSes. Today, port 445 is used by Microsoft Directory Services for Active Directory (AD) and for the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol over TCP/IP.

Port 139 is used by SMB dialects that communicate over NetBIOS. It operates as an application layer network protocol for device communication in Windows operating systems over a network. For example, printers and serials ports communicate via Port 139.

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an application protocol for working with various directory services. Directory services, such as Active Directory, store user and account information, and security information like passwords.

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) uses Domain Name System (DNS) name resolution services to make it possible for clients to locate domain controllers and for the domain controllers that host the directory service to communicate with each other.

The term SYSVOL refers to a set of files and folders that reside on the local hard disk of each domain controller in a domain and that are replicated by the File Replication service (FRS). Network clients access the contents of the SYSVOL tree by using the following shared folders: NETLOGON.

These active directory skills are always in high demand:

Exchange Servers Implementation, Configuration, and Administration. Certificate Authority Installation, Configuration, and Administration. Hyper-V Virtual Machines Installation and Configuration. OCS Configuration and Administration.

What is difference between AD and LDAP? ›

AD is a directory service for Microsoft that makes important information about individuals available on a limited basis within a certain entity. Meanwhile, LDAP is a protocol not exclusive to Microsoft that allows users to query an AD and authenticate access to it.

The main difference between Active Directory and Domain Controller is that Active Directory is a directory service developed for Windows domain networks while Domain controller is a server that runs on Active Directory Domain Service.

A directory service, such as Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), provides the methods for storing directory data and making this data available to network users and administrators.

While DNS domains and AD DS domains typically have the same name, they are two separate objects with different roles. DNS stores zones and zone data required by AD DS and responds to DNS queries from clients. AD DS stores object names and object records and uses LDAP queries to retrieve or modify data.

Azure AD is not simply a cloud version of AD as the name might suggest. Although it performs some of the same functions, it is quite different. Azure Active Directory is a secure online authentication store, which can contain users and groups.

Can You Run Active Directory Without a Server? The short answer is no, simply because Active Directory requires an on-prem server (i.e. software installed on a machine somewhere that an IT admin manages) to operate, even though this hardware isn't being utilized in how it was in years prior.

Most LDAP clients need to be explicitly configured with the addresses of the LDAP servers to use. However, RFC 2782 describes an alternative way of figuring out what directory servers are available: DNS SRV resource records, also called DNS service records.

What is the difference between SSO and LDAP? SSO is a convenient authentication method that allows users to access multiple applications and systems using just one login. LDAP is the protocol or communication process that will enable users to access a network resource through a directory service.

Although Comparing LDAP and SQL is a common discussion, it is really comparing Apples and Oranges. LDAP is a Communications protocol and SQL (Structured Query Language) is a special-purpose programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems (RDBMS).

To open Active Directory Users and Computers, log into a domain controller, and open Server Manager from the Start menu. Now, in the Tools menu in Server Manager, click Active Directory Users and Computers. For more details on accessing Active Directory and other ways to access the admin tools, keep reading!

How many types of Active Directory are there? ›

There are technically 7 different types of Active Directory. Each of them are deployed in different way, places and for different purposes.

Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. It runs on Windows Server and enables administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources. Active Directory stores data as objects. An object is a single element, such as a user, group, application or device such as a printer.

Once LDAP events have been enabled, open the Windows Event Viewer and navigate to Applications and Services Logs > Directory Service. Before running the widget test or trying to authenticate via the splash page to generate some logs, clear the older logs or filter the current logs over the last hour.

The AD database is stored in the NTDS. DIT file located in the NTDS folder of the system root, usually C:\Windows. AD uses a concept known as multimaster replication to ensure that the data store is consistent on all DCs. This process is known as replication.

Go to Computer Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Local Policies → Audit Policies. Select Audit object access and Audit directory service access. Select both the Success and Failure options to audit all accesses to every Active Directory object.

To set up the Domain User account: Click the Domain User icon at the Domain administration page. The Domain User Properties page appears. To allow access to the control panel for the domain user select the checkbox Allow domain user access.

Summary. Windows supports file and printer-sharing traffic by using the SMB protocol directly hosted on TCP. SMB 1.0 and older CIFS traffic supported the NetBIOS over TCP (NBT) protocol supported the UDP transport, but starting in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 with SMB 2.0. 2, requires TCP/IP over port 445.

DHCP is a network protocol to used to configure IP networks. A DHCP server listens to UDP port 67 and dynamically assigns IP addresses and other network parameters to DHCP clients. These clients will listen for responses on UDP port 68.

What is TCP 464 used for? ›

TCP is one of the main protocols in TCP/IP networks. Whereas the IP protocol deals only with packets, TCP enables two hosts to establish a connection and exchange streams of data. TCP guarantees delivery of data and also guarantees that packets will be delivered on port 464 in the same order in which they were sent.

Port 443 is a virtual port that computers use to divert network traffic. Billions of people across the globe use it every single day. Any web search you make, your computer connects with a server that hosts that information and fetches it for you. This connection is made via a port – either HTTPS or HTTP port.

The port 444 is standard for SNPP servers, and it is free to use from the sender's point of view. Maximum message length can be carrier-dependent. Once connected, a user can simply enter the commands to send a message to a pager connected to that network.

Port number 8080 is usually used for web servers. When a port number is added to the end of the domain name, it drives traffic to the web server. However, users can not reserve port 8080 for secondary web servers.

NTP is a built-on UDP, where port 123 is used for NTP server communication and NTP clients use port 1023 (for example, a desktop). Unfortunately, like many legacy protocols, NTP suffers from security issues.

Answer : PORT 111 is the SUN Remote Procedure Call. This port is used as a well-defined means for determining the ports upon which other services in the system are running. It is referred to as a "portmapper" because it provides a directory, or "mapping" between available services and their ports.

The key components include domain, tree, forest, organizational unit, and site. As you read through each structural component description, consider that domains, trees, forest, and sites are not only integral with Active Directory but also integral with DNS.

AD is a directory service for Microsoft that makes important information about individuals available on a limited basis within a certain entity. Meanwhile, LDAP is a protocol not exclusive to Microsoft that allows users to query an AD and authenticate access to it.

How many types of LDAP are there? ›

There are ten basic types of operations in LDAP: Bind — Authenticate a user and change the identity of the client connection.

The AAA server compares a user's authentication credentials with other user credentials stored in a database; in this case, that database is Active Directory. If the user's login credentials match, the user is granted access to the network.

What Does Active Directory Do? AD serves as a centralized security management solution that houses all network resources. The purpose of Active Directory is to enable organizations to keep their network secure and organized without having to use up excessive IT resources.

Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is a reliable, scalable solution for managing users, resources and authentication in a Windows environment. However, like any software tool, it has limitations that can be difficult to overcome.