CTD-000148

Insufficient Active Directory domain controller auditing policy configuration

Medium
Active Directory
Defense Evasion

Signature Identity

CTD-000148
Threat ID
Version
IOE
Indicator Type

Threat Description

This threat checks whether your organization has sufficient auditing settings for your AD domain controllers, which helps organizations alert of suspicious activity that could lead to lateral movement and privilege escalation, including a complete domain compromise.

MITRE ATT&CK: Attack Tactics

Defense Evasion

D3FEND: Defend Tactics

Application Configuration Hardening

Remediation

Make sure the audit settings listed in the Evidence section are configured in a Group Policy Object (GPO) that applies to the Domain Controllers OU, based on the Microsoft audit policy recommendations.

  1. In the Evidence section, find each setting to change and the GPO listed under Source.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If a GPO is listed under Source, edit that GPO. When several GPOs define a setting, the one with the highest precedence wins, and the settings in the other GPOs are overridden.
    • If the setting is reported as Not configured by applicable GPO, edit a GPO that applies to the Domain Controllers OU.
  3. Go to Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Advanced Audit Policy Configuration > Audit Policies.
  4. For each Subcategory listed in the Evidence section, configure the corresponding audit policy with the value shown under Setting.

More information: Audit Policy Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Insufficient Active Directory domain controller auditing policy configuration mean?

This condition refers to the lack of sufficient auditing settings for AD domain controllers, making it difficult to detect suspicious activity and potential security breaches.

This configuration is considered medium severity because attackers can move undetected within the network and gain elevated privileges through the exploitation of audit log gaps, ultimately leading to a higher risk of domain compromise.

Attackers can exploit this configuration by leveraging audit log gaps to move undetected within the network, escalate privileges, and potentially lead to a complete domain compromise through the abuse of Kerberos authentication and authorization mechanisms, which can be detected and identified by Cayosoft Guardian.

Cayosoft Guardian continuously monitors for Insufficient Active Directory domain controller auditing policy configuration and alerts administrators when the condition is detected. This provides visibility into the exposure so security teams can review the finding and determine whether investigation or response is required. Guardian monitors Active Directory for this condition and flags it when detected.

Cayosoft Guardian helps reduce the risk of Insufficient Active Directory domain controller auditing policy configuration by alerting administrators when the condition is detected and providing visibility into the affected accounts, groups, permissions, and configurations. This helps security teams identify exposure more quickly and respond before the issue contributes to a larger security event.

Stop AD Threats As They Happen

Cayosoft Protector provides continuous monitoring and real-time alerts across your entire Microsoft Identity stack

Classification
Systems
Active Directory
Themes
Infrastructure
Attack Tactics
Defense Evasion
Defend Tactics
Application Configuration Hardening
Indicator Types
IOE
Related Threats
CTD-000139
Kerberos Constrained Delegation: krbtgt Risks
Critical
CTD-000122
Active Directory Schema Update Permission Risks
Critical