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<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
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---
name: detecting-golden-ticket-attacks
description: >-
  Detect Golden Ticket attacks by monitoring for anomalous TGT usage, ticket lifetime violations, and forged PAC data in Kerberos authentication flows.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: active-directory-security
tags:
  - golden-ticket
  - kerberos
  - tgt
  - detection
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1558.001"]
  frameworks: ["MITRE ATT&CK", "NIST 800-53"]
  tools: ["sigma", "splunk", "elastic"]
---

# Detecting Golden Ticket Attacks

## Overview

Detect Golden Ticket attacks by monitoring for anomalous TGT usage, ticket lifetime violations, and forged PAC data in Kerberos authentication flows.

## Prerequisites

| Tool / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| `sigma` | Security tooling |
| `splunk` | Security tooling |
| `elastic` | Security tooling |
| SIEM access, Windows Event Logs (4769, 4768), Kerberos monitoring | Environment requirement |

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Quick start commands
node scripts/agent.js --help
wevtutil qe Security /q:"*[System[EventID=4769]]" /f:text
```

## Workflow

### Step 1: Configure Event Log Collection

```bash
wevtutil qe Security /q:"*[System[EventID=4769]]" /f:text
```

### Step 2: Deploy Sigma Detection Rules

```bash
sigma convert -t splunk detection_rules/golden_ticket.yml
```

### Step 3: Analyze TGT Anomalies

```bash
node scripts/agent.js detect --log-source security_events
```

## Detection

```yaml
title: Golden Ticket Attacks Detection
id: a93772aa-e9c5-49bb-8b3d-e0286dfe80a0
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to detecting golden ticket attacks techniques in active directory security context
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine: "*detecting*golden*"
  condition: selection
level: medium
tags:
  - attack.t1558.001
  - attack.credential_access
falsepositives:
  - Authorized Active Directory administration using approved management tools
```


**Detection Opportunities**

| Indicator | Source | Detection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Ticket Attacks Detection | windows/process_creation | Sigma rule (medium) |
| ATT&CK Coverage | MITRE ATT&CK | T1558.001 |

## Verification

- **Verify detection rule coverage**: `node scripts/agent.js detect --log-source test_events`
- **Confirm alert generation**: `node scripts/agent.js report --domain corp.local`

## References

- MITRE ATT&CK: T1558.001
- Frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, NIST 800-53
- Tools: sigma, splunk, elastic
