Suspicious Active Directory Database Snapshot Via ADExplorer

Title: Suspicious Active Directory Database Snapshot Via ADExplorer
Status: test
Description:Detects the execution of Sysinternals ADExplorer with the "-snapshot" flag in order to save a local copy of the active directory database to a suspicious directory. This can be used by attackers to extract data for Bloodhound, usernames for password spraying or use the meta data for social engineering. The snapshot doesn't contain password hashes but there have been cases, where administrators put passwords in the comment field.
References:
  -https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5743766-Global-Threat-Report-2019.html
  -https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/sysinternals/downloads/adexplorer
  -https://github.com/c3c/ADExplorerSnapshot.py/tree/f700904defac330802bbfedd1d8ffd9248f4ee24
  -https://www.packetlabs.net/posts/scattered-spider-is-a-young-ransomware-gang-exploiting-large-corporations/
  -https://www.nccgroup.com/us/research-blog/lapsus-recent-techniques-tactics-and-procedures/
  -https://trustedsec.com/blog/adexplorer-on-engagements
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Date: 2023-03-14
modified:2025-07-09
Tags:

• -'attack.discovery'
• -'attack.t1087.002'
• -'attack.t1069.002'
• -'attack.t1482'

Logsource:

• category: process_creation
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
      - '\ADExp.exe'
      - '\ADExplorer.exe'
      - '\ADExplorer64.exe'
      - '\ADExplorer64a.exe'
OriginalFileName:'AdExp' Description:'Active Directory Editor' Product:'Sysinternals ADExplorer'   selection_flag:
    CommandLine|contains: 'snapshot'
  selection_paths:
    CommandLine|contains:
      -'\Downloads\'
      -'\Users\Public\'
      -'\AppData\'
      -'\Windows\Temp\'

  condition:all of selection_*
Falsepositives:
  -Unknown
Level: high