---
title: "Active Directory Discovery"
last_modified_at: 2021-08-20
toc: true
tags:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  - Endpoint
---

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#### Description

Monitor for activities and techniques associated with Discovery and Reconnaissance within with Active Directory environments.

- **Product**: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
- **Datamodel**: [Endpoint](https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/CIM/latest/User/Endpoint)
- **Last Updated**: 2021-08-20
- **Author**: Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
- **ID**: 8460679c-2b21-463e-b381-b813417c32f2

#### Narrative

Discovery consists of techniques an adversay uses to gain knowledge about an internal environment or network. These techniques provide adversaries with situational awareness and allows them to have the necessary information before deciding how to act or who/what to target next.\
Once an attacker obtains an initial foothold in an Active Directory environment, she is forced to engage in Discovery techniques in the initial phases of a breach to better understand and navigate the target network. Some examples include but are not limited to enumerating domain users, domain admins, computers, domain controllers, network shares, group policy objects, domain trusts, etc.

#### Detections

| Name        | Technique   | Type         |
| ----------- | ----------- |--------------|
| [AdsiSearcher Account Discovery](/endpoint/adsisearcher_account_discovery/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account), [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery), [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery), [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups), [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery), [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups), [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery), [Local Account](/tags/#local-account), [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | TTP |
| [DSQuery Domain Discovery](/endpoint/dsquery_domain_discovery/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery), [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [Domain Account Discovery With Net App](/endpoint/domain_account_discovery_with_net_app/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [Domain Account Discovery with Dsquery](/endpoint/domain_account_discovery_with_dsquery/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | Hunting |
| [Domain Account Discovery with Wmic](/endpoint/domain_account_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [Domain Controller Discovery with Nltest](/endpoint/domain_controller_discovery_with_nltest/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [Domain Controller Discovery with Wmic](/endpoint/domain_controller_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Domain Group Discovery With Dsquery](/endpoint/domain_group_discovery_with_dsquery/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [Domain Group Discovery With Net](/endpoint/domain_group_discovery_with_net/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [Domain Group Discovery With Wmic](/endpoint/domain_group_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [Domain Group Discovery with Adsisearcher](/endpoint/domain_group_discovery_with_adsisearcher/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [Elevated Group Discovery With Net](/endpoint/elevated_group_discovery_with_net/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [Elevated Group Discovery With Wmic](/endpoint/elevated_group_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [Elevated Group Discovery with PowerView](/endpoint/elevated_group_discovery_with_powerview/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [Get ADDefaultDomainPasswordPolicy with Powershell](/endpoint/get_addefaultdomainpasswordpolicy_with_powershell/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Get ADDefaultDomainPasswordPolicy with Powershell Script Block](/endpoint/get_addefaultdomainpasswordpolicy_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Get ADUser with PowerShell](/endpoint/get_aduser_with_powershell/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | Hunting |
| [Get ADUser with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/get_aduser_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | Hunting |
| [Get ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy with Powershell](/endpoint/get_aduserresultantpasswordpolicy_with_powershell/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy with Powershell Script Block](/endpoint/get_aduserresultantpasswordpolicy_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get DomainPolicy with Powershell](/endpoint/get_domainpolicy_with_powershell/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get DomainPolicy with Powershell Script Block](/endpoint/get_domainpolicy_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get DomainUser with PowerShell](/endpoint/get_domainuser_with_powershell/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [Get DomainUser with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/get_domainuser_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [Get WMIObject Group Discovery](/endpoint/get_wmiobject_group_discovery/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |
| [Get WMIObject Group Discovery with Script Block Logging](/endpoint/get_wmiobject_group_discovery_with_script_block_logging/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |
| [Get-DomainTrust with PowerShell](/endpoint/get-domaintrust_with_powershell/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get-DomainTrust with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/get-domaintrust_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get-ForestTrust with PowerShell](/endpoint/get-foresttrust_with_powershell/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery) | TTP |
| [Get-ForestTrust with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/get-foresttrust_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetAdComputer with PowerShell](/endpoint/getadcomputer_with_powershell/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetAdComputer with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getadcomputer_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetAdGroup with PowerShell](/endpoint/getadgroup_with_powershell/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [GetAdGroup with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getadgroup_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | Hunting |
| [GetCurrent User with PowerShell](/endpoint/getcurrent_user_with_powershell/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetCurrent User with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getcurrent_user_with_powershell_script_block/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetDomainComputer with PowerShell](/endpoint/getdomaincomputer_with_powershell/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetDomainComputer with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getdomaincomputer_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetDomainController with PowerShell](/endpoint/getdomaincontroller_with_powershell/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetDomainController with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getdomaincontroller_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetDomainGroup with PowerShell](/endpoint/getdomaingroup_with_powershell/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [GetDomainGroup with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getdomaingroup_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [GetLocalUser with PowerShell](/endpoint/getlocaluser_with_powershell/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [GetLocalUser with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getlocaluser_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [GetNetTcpconnection with PowerShell](/endpoint/getnettcpconnection_with_powershell/) | [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetNetTcpconnection with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getnettcpconnection_with_powershell_script_block/) | [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | Hunting |
| [GetWmiObject DS User with PowerShell](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_user_with_powershell/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject DS User with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_user_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Account](/tags/#domain-account) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject Ds Computer with PowerShell](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_computer_with_powershell/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject Ds Computer with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_computer_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject Ds Group with PowerShell](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_group_with_powershell/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject Ds Group with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getwmiobject_ds_group_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Domain Groups](/tags/#domain-groups) | TTP |
| [GetWmiObject User Account with PowerShell](/endpoint/getwmiobject_user_account_with_powershell/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [GetWmiObject User Account with PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/getwmiobject_user_account_with_powershell_script_block/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [Local Account Discovery With Wmic](/endpoint/local_account_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [Local Account Discovery with Net](/endpoint/local_account_discovery_with_net/) | [Local Account](/tags/#local-account) | Hunting |
| [NLTest Domain Trust Discovery](/endpoint/nltest_domain_trust_discovery/) | [Domain Trust Discovery](/tags/#domain-trust-discovery) | TTP |
| [Net Localgroup Discovery](/endpoint/net_localgroup_discovery/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |
| [Network Connection Discovery With Arp](/endpoint/network_connection_discovery_with_arp/) | [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Network Connection Discovery With Net](/endpoint/network_connection_discovery_with_net/) | [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Network Connection Discovery With Netstat](/endpoint/network_connection_discovery_with_netstat/) | [System Network Connections Discovery](/tags/#system-network-connections-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Password Policy Discovery with Net](/endpoint/password_policy_discovery_with_net/) | [Password Policy Discovery](/tags/#password-policy-discovery) | Hunting |
| [PowerShell Get LocalGroup Discovery](/endpoint/powershell_get_localgroup_discovery/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |
| [Powershell Get LocalGroup Discovery with Script Block Logging](/endpoint/powershell_get_localgroup_discovery_with_script_block_logging/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |
| [Remote System Discovery with Adsisearcher](/endpoint/remote_system_discovery_with_adsisearcher/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [Remote System Discovery with Dsquery](/endpoint/remote_system_discovery_with_dsquery/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Remote System Discovery with Net](/endpoint/remote_system_discovery_with_net/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Remote System Discovery with Wmic](/endpoint/remote_system_discovery_with_wmic/) | [Remote System Discovery](/tags/#remote-system-discovery) | TTP |
| [System User Discovery With Query](/endpoint/system_user_discovery_with_query/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [System User Discovery With Whoami](/endpoint/system_user_discovery_with_whoami/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [User Discovery With Env Vars PowerShell](/endpoint/user_discovery_with_env_vars_powershell/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [User Discovery With Env Vars PowerShell Script Block](/endpoint/user_discovery_with_env_vars_powershell_script_block/) | [System Owner/User Discovery](/tags/#system-owner/user-discovery) | Hunting |
| [Wmic Group Discovery](/endpoint/wmic_group_discovery/) | [Local Groups](/tags/#local-groups) | Hunting |

#### Reference

* [https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/)
* [https://adsecurity.org/?p=2535](https://adsecurity.org/?p=2535)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/001/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/001/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/002/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/002/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/003/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1087/003/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1482/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1482/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1201/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1201/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1069/001/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1069/001/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1069/002/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1069/002/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1018/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1018/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1049/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1049/)
* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1033/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1033/)



[*source*](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/tree/develop/stories/active_directory_discovery.yml) \| *version*: **1**