{"id":4386,"date":"2025-12-19T07:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/?p=4386"},"modified":"2025-12-19T07:35:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:35:00","slug":"how-to-detect-vulnerabilities-in-active-directory-before-they-are-exploited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/en\/how-to-detect-vulnerabilities-in-active-directory-before-they-are-exploited\/","title":{"rendered":"How to detect vulnerabilities in Active Directory before they are exploited"},"content":{"rendered":"
Active Directory has been the heart of IT infrastructure in thousands of organizations for years. Regardless of company size or industry, if there’s a Windows domain, there’s an <\/span>Active Directory managing identities, access, and permissions.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s precisely why it has become a favorite target for attackers. Not because it’s inherently weak, but because it’s often to <\/span>grow, change, and be inherited over time… and that’s where the cracks appear.<\/b><\/p>\n Detecting vulnerabilities in Active Directory before they are exploited is not a one-off task, nor is it something that can be resolved with an annual audit. It’s an ongoing process that combines technical knowledge, real-world visibility, and risk context. In this article, we’ll see how to do it in practice, without unnecessary technical jargon, and what role the <\/span>Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)<\/b> solutions play in this process.<\/span><\/p>\n At Enthec, we work precisely on this continuous approach. Kartos, our cybersecurity solution for businesses, helps identify, prioritize, and reduce exposure to real threats, including risks associated with Active Directory. It’s not just about seeing vulnerabilities, but about understanding which ones truly matter and why. <\/span><\/p>\n If you want to know how this translates into the day-to-day work of a security team, keep reading.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Active Directory is not just an authentication service. It’s a complete ecosystem where users, computers, servers, group policies, services, and trust relationships coexist. <\/span>A small error in your configuration can have a considerable impact.<\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, attackers no longer improvise. In many recent incidents, the primary objective is not to <\/span>encrypt data<\/span><\/a> or exfiltrate information, but to<\/span> take control of Active Directory.<\/b>. Once inside, everything else falls into place.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the most frequent problems is the<\/span> accumulation of privileges. <\/b>. Users who change positions, service accounts created “temporarily,” or groups that no one has reviewed for years.<\/span><\/p>\n A user with more permissions than necessary is an open door,<\/b>. and in Active Directory, those doors are usually well hidden.<\/span><\/p>\n Accounts that shouldn’t exist anymore, passwords that aren’t rotated, or services that work with shared credentials. All of this is still commonplace. The <\/span>use of compromised credentials remains a leading cause of security breaches,<\/b> especially in corporate environments.<\/span><\/p>\n You may be interested in\u2192<\/span> How to manage business passwords and credentials easily and securely to avoid online threats<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy does Active Directory remain a critical security point?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nCommon vulnerabilities in Active Directory<\/b><\/h2>\n
Excessive permissions and poorly managed groups<\/b><\/h3>\n
Outdated accounts and weak credentials
<\/b><\/h3>\nPoorly configured group policies<\/b><\/h3>\n