Imagine being able to sneak through your own network like an attacker, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities and watching as small gaps open up into dangerous security risks. This is exactly where Bloodhound and PingCastle come in – two of the most powerful tools for putting Active Directory through its paces and making the network as secure as possible.
Bloodhound is the pathfinder among security tools: it tracks down complicated relationships and permission structures in Active Directory and presents them in a clear graphical display. This makes it possible to understand potential attack paths for privilege escalations – exactly what an attacker would use to gain access to the network.
PingCastle, on the other hand, systematically goes through the state of Active Directory, tracking down outdated configurations, redundant accounts, and insecure policies. It is the diagnostic counterpart to BloodHound: instead of visualizing the paths that attackers could use, PingCastle checks the overall health of the network and highlights where security gaps exist.
Together, BloodHound and PingCastle are a two-pronged strategy that scans Active Directory for both potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors. Together, they provide a comprehensive picture of the AD security posture and enable admins to harden the network against threats before someone can make uninvited use of it.
As part of our security monitoring of Certified Security Operations Center GmbH (CSOC), we detected suspicious activity related to the BloodHound tool at a customer in the energy sector. This tool, combined with PingCastle, was used by attackers in this case to exploit potential vulnerabilities in the network. Together, BloodHound and PinCastle are a powerful duo for carrying out a targeted attack.
The attackers’ intentions
The combination of these tools suggests that the attackers were planning a targeted approach to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems. By using BloodHound, they were able to analyze the structure of the network and search specifically for privileged accounts that would allow them access to critical systems. PingCastle helped them identify vulnerabilities in security configurations that they could exploit to optimize their attacks.
Recommendations for action for companies
- Regular security checks: Run regular security checks on your Active Directory environment to identify and fix vulnerabilities.
- Restricting permissions: Implement the principle of least privilege to ensure that users only have the permissions they need to do their jobs.
- Monitoring and logging: Use effective monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect and respond to suspicious activity in real time.
- Training employees: Provide regular training to your employees on cybersecurity and how to recognize phishing attempts and other methods of attack.
- Incident response plan: Develop an incident response plan to enable a quick and effective response in the event of a security incident.
Conclusion
The discovery of BloodHound and SharpHound in conjunction with PingCastle at a customer in the energy sector highlights the need to take proactive security measures. By implementing the above recommendations, organizations can significantly improve their security posture and better defend themselves against potential cyberattacks.