ADFinder.exe : an Active Directory Tool

Hello👋 I'm Ankita Sinha, a Security Analyst. You can connect with me on LinkedIn, and Github.

What is AD Finder tool?

In the context of Active Directory, tools often have names that reflect their functionality or purpose. For example:

1. ADExplorer: A tool developed by Sysinternals (now owned by Microsoft) for viewing Active Directory objects.
2. ADInfo: A tool developed by CJWDEV for querying Active Directory information.
3. ADRecon: A tool used for gathering information about an Active Directory environment for reconnaissance and enumeration.

The “adfinder.exe” tool is a similar tool used for finding or querying information within an Active Directory environment. However, if you encountered this file and suspect it to be malicious, it’s essential to investigate further. You can analyze the file using antivirus software, sandbox environments, or by examining its digital signature and file properties.

What to look for w.r.t malicious AD Finder tool?

When investigating the potential malicious adfinder.exe, look for these key indicators to look for:

1. Unusual Execution: Monitor for instances of adfinder.exe running on systems where it shouldn’t be. Look for anomalous execution paths or unexpected launches of the tool.
2. Unauthorized Access: Check for unauthorized access attempts to the Active Directory environment, particularly if they coincide with the presence of adfinder.exe on the network.
3. Unexplained Network Traffic: Analyze network traffic for any unusual patterns or communications originating from systems where adfinder.exe is present. Look for connections to suspicious IP addresses or domains associated with malicious activity.
4. Changes to Active Directory Configuration: Monitor for changes to Active Directory objects, permissions, or configurations that may indicate unauthorized modifications made using adfinder.exe.
5. Credential Usage: Look for instances where credentials obtained through adfinder.exe may have been used to authenticate to other systems or services within the network.
6. Abnormal File Activity: Check for unusual file activity, such as the creation, modification, or deletion of sensitive files or directories, which may be indicative of data exfiltration or manipulation by attackers leveraging adfinder.exe.
7. Event Log Analysis: Review Windows event logs for any suspicious events, such as failed login attempts, privilege escalation attempts, or unusual administrative activities that may be associated with the use of adfinder.exe.
8. Endpoint Anomalies: Monitor endpoints for signs of compromise, such as unexpected system crashes, performance degradation, or the presence of additional malicious files or processes associated with adfinder.exe.
9. Behavioral Analysis: Conduct behavioral analysis of adfinder.exe to understand its typical usage patterns and identify any deviations from expected behavior that may indicate malicious intent.
10. Threat Intelligence: Leverage threat intelligence sources to identify known indicators of compromise associated with adfinder.exe or similar tools used in malicious campaigns.

If you discover any suspicious activity or indicators associated with adfinder.exe, it’s crucial to respond promptly by isolating affected systems, containing the threat, conducting a thorough investigation, and implementing appropriate remediation measures to mitigate further risk to the Active Directory environment.

Malicious Use of the AD Finder tool

If a tool named “adfinder.exe” exists and is being used for malicious purposes in an Active Directory environment, it could potentially be leveraged for reconnaissance, privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data exfiltration.

Here are some ways in which such a tool could be misused:

1. Reconnaissance: Adfinder.exe might be used to gather information about the Active Directory environment, such as domain structure, user accounts, group memberships, and permissions. This information could be valuable for planning further attacks.
2. Credential Harvesting: The tool could be used to extract credentials stored in the Active Directory, such as password hashes or plaintext passwords, from user accounts or service accounts.
3. Privilege Escalation: Adfinder.exe could identify misconfigurations or vulnerabilities in the Active Directory environment that could be exploited to escalate privileges, gain administrative access, or compromise domain controllers.
4. Lateral Movement: Once inside the network, attackers could use adfinder.exe to identify other systems, servers, or devices within the Active Directory domain, allowing them to move laterally and spread their influence across the network.
5. Data Exfiltration: Adfinder.exe might be used to search for sensitive data stored within the Active Directory environment, such as personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property, or financial information. Once identified, this data could be exfiltrated from the network.

Investigation of adfinder.exe

When investigating adfinder.exe in an Active Directory environment, you can use various commands and tools to collect and analyze network metadata. Here are some commands and techniques you can use:

1. Wireshark: Wireshark is a popular network protocol analyzer that captures and displays network packets in real-time. You can use Wireshark to capture network traffic related to adfinder.exe and analyze the communication patterns, destination IPs, and protocols used.
2. NetFlow: NetFlow is a network protocol developed by Cisco for collecting IP traffic information. You can enable NetFlow on routers or switches to capture metadata about network flows, including source and destination IPs, ports, and protocols. Analyzing NetFlow data can help identify suspicious network activity associated with adfinder.exe.
3. Packet Capture with tcpdump: Use the tcpdump command-line tool to capture network packets on a specific interface or network segment. You can filter the captured packets to focus on traffic related to adfinder.exe using filters such as source or destination IP addresses, ports, or protocols.

sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -w adfinder_traffic.pcap host <adfinder_IP>

1. Sysmon: Sysmon is a Windows system service and device driver that logs system activity to the Windows event log. You can configure Sysmon to capture network connection events generated by adfinder.exe, providing insights into its network behavior.
2. Firewall Logs: Check firewall logs for any outgoing connections initiated by adfinder.exe. Look for connections to suspicious IP addresses or domains that may indicate command-and-control (C2) communication or data exfiltration.
3. Proxy Logs: If your organization uses a proxy server, review proxy logs to identify any HTTP or HTTPS requests made by adfinder.exe. Pay attention to the URLs accessed and the content of the requests, as they may reveal malicious activity.
4. DNS Logs: Analyze DNS logs for any DNS queries related to adfinder.exe. Look for unusual domain names or DNS resolution patterns that may indicate communication with malicious servers or domains.
5. SMB Logs: Analyze the SMB traffic to identify the presence of the files like adfinder.exe or active directory related files.
6. Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): IDS/IPS solutions can detect and alert on suspicious network activity associated with adfinder.exe based on predefined signatures or behavior-based analysis.
7. SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Use a SIEM platform to aggregate and correlate network metadata from various sources, such as firewall logs, DNS logs, and NetFlow data. This allows for centralized monitoring and analysis of network activity related to adfinder.exe.

When analyzing network metadata, focus on identifying communication patterns, unusual destinations, and potential indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with adfinder.exe. By correlating network metadata with other sources of telemetry, such as endpoint logs and Active Directory events, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape and take appropriate response actions.

To mitigate the risk of adfinder.exe or similar tools being misused in your Active Directory environment, consider the following preventive measures:

1. Access Controls: Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles to limit who can execute tools like adfinder.exe and access sensitive information within the Active Directory environment.
2. Monitoring and Logging: Monitor for suspicious activity, such as unusual queries or access patterns involving Active Directory, and maintain comprehensive logs for auditing and forensic analysis.
3. Network Segmentation: Segment your network to limit the impact of a potential breach and prevent lateral movement between different segments of the network.
4. Patch Management: Keep the Active Directory environment and all associated systems up to date with the latest security patches and updates to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
5. User Training: Provide regular training and awareness programs for employees to educate them about the risks of social engineering, phishing attacks, and other common vectors used by attackers to gain access to Active Directory environments.
6. Threat Intelligence: Stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities related to Active Directory and implement proactive measures to defend against them.

If you suspect that adfinder.exe or any other tool is being used maliciously in your environment, immediately isolate affected systems, conduct a thorough investigation, and take appropriate remediation actions to contain the threat and prevent further damage. Additionally, consider involving your organization’s IT security team or a qualified cybersecurity professional for assistance.

Conclusion

In summary, “adfinder.exe” could potentially refer to a legitimate software tool developed for a specific purpose, but without more context or information, it’s essential to exercise caution and conduct thorough research to understand its nature and usage properly.