Suspicious Active Directory Database Snapshot Via ADExplorer
Detects the execution of Sysinternals ADExplorer with the "-snapshot" flag in order to save a local copy of the active directory database to a suspicious directory. This can be used by attackers to extract data for…
Description
Detects the execution of Sysinternals ADExplorer with the "-snapshot" flag in order to save a local copy of the active directory database to a suspicious directory. This can be used by attackers to extract data for Bloodhound, usernames for password spraying or use the meta data for social engineering. The snapshot doesn't contain password hashes but there have been cases, where administrators put passwords in the comment field.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source product
- windows
- Log source category
- process_creation
Known benign triggers
- Unknown
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| github.com/c3c/ADExplorerSnapshot.py/tree/f700904defac330802bbfedd1d8ffd9248f4ee24 | 3 |
| learn.microsoft.com/de-de/sysinternals/downloads/adexplorer | 3 |
| trustedsec.com/blog/adexplorer-on-engagements | 3 |
| www.documentcloud.org/documents/5743766-Global-Threat-Report-2019.html | 3 |
| www.nccgroup.com/us/research-blog/lapsus-recent-techniques-tactics-and-procedures/ | 3 |
| www.packetlabs.net/posts/scattered-spider-is-a-young-ransomware-gang-exploiting-large-corporations/ | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- ef61af62-bc74-4f58-b49b-626448227652
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.discovery
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1