Windows AD Replication Service Traffic
The following analytic identifies unexpected Active Directory replication traffic from non-domain controller sources. It leverages data from the Network Traffic datamodel, specifically looking for applications…
Description
The following analytic identifies unexpected Active Directory replication traffic from non-domain controller sources. It leverages data from the Network Traffic datamodel, specifically looking for applications related to AD replication. This activity is significant because AD replication traffic should typically only occur between domain controllers. Detection of such traffic from other sources may indicate malicious activities like DCSync or DCShadow, which are used for credential dumping. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to exfiltrate sensitive credentials, leading to unauthorized access and potential domain-wide compromise.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
Known benign triggers
- New domain controllers or certian scripts run by administrators.
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=1729 | 4 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/006/ | Only this detection cites it |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1207/ | 4 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- c6e24183-a5f4-4b2a-ad01-2eb456d09b67
- Tagged by the source as
- Sneaky Active Directory Persistence TricksEndpointnetworkSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securitynetwork
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