At its core, Kerberos is a protocol designed to guarantee secure authentication for both users and devices within a network environment. The special feature of Kerberos lies in the use of encrypted tickets.
These make authentication easier and at the same time avoid the transmission of passwords over the network. They are encoded with a confidential key that is exchanged exclusively between the user and the authentication server. Kerberoasting is a specific form of attack that focuses on the Kerberos authentication protocol, which is a key component of Microsoft Active Directory systems. The crux of a Kerberoasting attack is to gain access to the encrypted tickets from the network's domain. This happens by exploiting vulnerabilities in the Kerberos protocol or by intercepting traffic on an unsecured network. Once the attacker obtains the encrypted tickets, they attempt to crack the encrypted password, often using brute force techniques.
Kerberoasting attacks are so difficult to combat because they occur without any noticeable warnings or activity within the network. They provide initial access to an environment, then the attacker can decrypt the information offline. To obtain encrypted tickets, the attacker does not need to compromise any endpoints. In 2023, Kerberoasting attacks will still work the same as before. The evolving threat landscape has resulted in new strategies and techniques to increase the impact of attacks. However, the core mechanisms of the attacks essentially remain the same.
Automation of attacks
A notable recent change is the use of cloud-based tools to carry out Kerberoasting attacks. Most companies today work with cloud-based networks, and this also applies to hackers. These tools streamline the process and eliminate the need for specialized knowledge or skills by leveraging the power of the cloud. The trend toward automation is becoming increasingly evident among attackers carrying out Kerberoasting attacks. This automated approach allows them to attack large numbers of accounts quickly and efficiently.
Kerberoasting attacks are often linked to other attack strategies that exploit weak password protection. Strong password protection is therefore crucial to protecting a company from Kerberoasting attacks. This can be expanded even further by integrating multi-factor authentication (MFA). Even if an attacker manages to obtain a password, MFA makes it significantly more difficult to gain access. Endpoint detection and response solutions also provide a strong defense against Kerberoasting attacks. These can detect suspicious activity, such as a sudden increase in failed login attempts or attempts to extract Kerberos tickets. This allows users to detect malicious activity early and take action to prevent the loss of confidential data. (Chris Vaughan, VP Technical Account Management at Tanium)
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