DSQuery is a command-line tool for querying Active Directory (AD) to obtain information about the objects within the directory. It is a valuable tool for system administrators and security professionals as it can query information about user accounts, computer accounts, and security groups. For Red Team members, DSQuery can be used to gather information about the Active Directory environment to identify vulnerabilities and attack vectors.

In this article, we will discuss how Red Team members can use DSQuery to gather information about Active Directory environments and provide specific examples of queries that can be used to identify vulnerabilities and attack vectors.

What is DSQuery?

DSQuery is a command-line tool included in the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools feature of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) package. It can search for and retrieve information about the objects within the Active Directory environment. Some of the objects that can be queried with DSQuery include:

  • User accounts
  • Computer accounts
  • Security groups
  • Organizational Units (OU)
  • Domain controllers

DSQuery can query information about these objects based on specific criteria, such as the object’s name, description, or attributes. It can also perform more complex searches using LDAP filters.

Using DSQuery to gather information about Active Directory environments

Red Team members can use DSQuery to gather information about an Active Directory environment to identify vulnerabilities and attack vectors. Some of the information that can be obtained using DSQuery includes:

  • User account information includes usernames, email addresses, and group memberships.
  • Computer account information includes hostnames, IP addresses, and operating systems.
  • Security group information, such as group memberships and permissions.
  • Domain controller information, such as the names and IP addresses of the domain controllers.

By gathering this information, Red Team members can identify potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors and develop strategies for exploiting them.

Examples of DSQuery commands

Here are some examples of DSQuery commands that Red Team members can use to gather information about an Active Directory environment:

Querying user accounts

DSQuery can be used to query information about user accounts in Active Directory. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all user accounts in the domain:

dsquery user domainroot -name * -limit 0

This command will return a list of all user accounts in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for social engineering attacks or to gather information about potential privileged accounts.

To retrieve specific information about a particular user account, the following command can be used:

dsquery user domainroot -samid username

Replace “username” with the name of the user account you wish to query. This command will return information about the user account, including group memberships and attributes.

Querying computer accounts

DSQuery can also query information about Active Directory’s computer accounts. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all computer accounts in the domain:

dsquery computer domainroot -name * -limit 0

This command will return a list of all computer accounts in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for network-based attacks or gather information about possible social engineering attacks.

To retrieve specific information about a particular computer account, the following command can be used:

dsquery computer domainroot -samid computername$

Replace “computername” with the name of the computer account you wish to query. This command will return information about the specified computer account, including its hostname, IP address, and operating system.

Querying security groups

DSQuery can also query information about security groups in Active Directory. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all security groups in the domain:

dsquery group domainroot -name * -limit 0

This command will return a list of all security groups in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for privilege escalation attacks or gather information about possible social engineering attacks.

To retrieve specific information about a particular security group, the following command can be used:

dsquery group domainroot -samid groupname

Replace “groupname” with the name of the security group you wish to query. This command will return information about the specified security group, including its members and permissions.

Querying domain controllers

DSQuery can also query information about domain controllers in Active Directory. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all domain controllers in the domain:

dsquery server domainroot -forest

This command will return a list of all domain controllers in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for privilege escalation attacks or to gather information about the domain infrastructure.

To retrieve specific information about a particular domain controller, the following command can be used:

dsquery server -name domaincontrollername

Replace “domaincontrollername” with the domain controller name you wish to query. This command will return information about the specified domain controller, including its IP address, operating system, and service pack level.

Querying organizational units (OU)

DSQuery can also query information about organizational units (OU) in Active Directory. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all organizational units in the domain:

dsquery ou domainroot -name * -limit 0

This command will return a list of all organizational units in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for privilege escalation attacks or to gather information about the domain structure.

To retrieve specific information about a particular organizational unit, the following command can be used:

dsquery ou -name "ou name" -scope base

Replace “ou name” with the name of the organizational unit you wish to query. This command will return information about the specified organizational unit, including its distinguished name and the names of its child objects.

Querying group policy objects (GPO)

DSQuery can also query information about group policy objects (GPO) in Active Directory. The following command can be used to retrieve a list of all GPOs in the domain:

dsquery gpo domainroot -name * -limit 0

This command will return a list of all GPOs in the domain. Red Team members can use this information to identify potential targets for privilege escalation attacks or to gather information about the domain policy settings.

To retrieve specific information about a particular GPO, the following command can be used:

dsquery gpo -name "gpo name"

Replace “gpo name” with the name of the GPO you wish to query. This command will return information about the specified GPO, including its distinguished name and the policy settings that it contains.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DSQuery is a valuable tool for Red Team members who wish to gather information about an Active Directory environment. It can provide information about user accounts, computer accounts, security groups, domain controllers, organizational units, and group policy objects. By using this information, Red Team members can identify potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors and develop strategies for exploiting them. However, it is crucial to use DSQuery ethically and with caution, as improper use of the tool can potentially significantly impact the domain infrastructure.