Kerberos Service Ticket Request Using RC4 Encryption
The following analytic detects Kerberos service ticket requests using RC4 encryption, leveraging Kerberos Event 4769. This method identifies potential Golden Ticket attacks, where adversaries forge Kerberos Granting…
Description
The following analytic detects Kerberos service ticket requests using RC4 encryption, leveraging Kerberos Event 4769. This method identifies potential Golden Ticket attacks, where adversaries forge Kerberos Granting Tickets (TGT) using the Krbtgt account NTLM password hash to gain unrestricted access to an Active Directory environment. Monitoring for RC4 encryption usage is significant as it is rare in modern networks, indicating possible malicious activity. If confirmed malicious, attackers could move laterally and execute code on remote systems, compromising the entire network. Note: This detection may be bypassed if attackers use the AES key instead of the NTLM hash.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- windows_event_log_security_4769
Known benign triggers
- Based on Microsoft documentation, legacy systems or applications will use RC4-HMAC as the default encryption for Kerberos Service Ticket requests. Specifically, systems before Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. Newer systems will use AES128 or AES256.
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 |
|---|---|
| adsecurity.org/?p=1515 | Only this detection cites it |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1558/001/ | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4769 | Only this detection cites it |
| en.hackndo.com/kerberos-silver-golden-tickets/ | 2 |
| gist.github.com/TarlogicSecurity/2f221924fef8c14a1d8e29f3cb5c5c4a | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 7d90f334-a482-11ec-908c-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Kerberos AttacksActive Directory Privilege EscalationScattered Lapsus$ HuntersEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1