Active Directory is the backbone of most enterprise networks and the primary target once an attacker is inside. Our Active Directory penetration testing maps the attack paths from a standard user to domain admin — Kerberos abuse, delegation, ACL misconfiguration and credential weaknesses.
We show the exact chains an attacker would follow and prioritize the changes that break the most paths at once.
Our Active Directory penetration testing maps the attack paths from a standard domain user to full domain and enterprise administrator. We test Kerberoasting and AS-REP roasting, constrained and unconstrained delegation abuse, ACL and object-permission escalation, and credential attacks like pass-the-hash — combining attack-path analysis with manual validation to confirm which paths are truly exploitable. We also assess hybrid AD and Entra ID, a frequent source of escalation.
Why it matters
Active Directory is the backbone of most enterprise networks and the primary target once an attacker is inside — control AD and you control nearly everything. Kerberos abuse, delegation and ACL misconfigurations create quiet paths straight to domain admin.
Active Directory penetration testing maps those attack paths from a standard user to full domain control and prioritizes the changes that break the most paths at once.
What we test
- Kerberoasting & AS-REP roasting
- Unconstrained & constrained delegation abuse
- ACL and object-permission escalation
- Credential harvesting & pass-the-hash
- Group Policy & trust misconfiguration
- Path-to-domain-admin analysis
Common vulnerabilities we uncover
- Kerberoasting and AS-REP roasting
- Unconstrained and constrained delegation abuse
- ACL and object-permission escalation
- Credential theft and pass-the-hash
- Group Policy and trust misconfiguration
- Clear paths to domain administrator
Our Active Directory Penetration Testing methodology
- Scoping & rules of engagement. We agree objectives, targets and boundaries for your active directory penetration testing, so testing is safe, authorized and focused on what matters to your business.
- Reconnaissance & mapping. We enumerate the full attack surface in scope, building a complete picture before any exploitation begins.
- Manual exploitation. Our senior testers chain vulnerabilities by hand — going far beyond automated scanners — to prove real, demonstrable impact.
- Analysis & reporting. Every finding is triaged, risk-rated with CVSS and written up with a copy-paste reproduction and clear remediation.
- Remediation support & free retest. We support your team through the fixes and retest the remediated issues to confirm they are genuinely closed.
Tools & techniques
We map AD attack paths using tooling such as BloodHound alongside manual validation, then confirm which paths are truly exploitable. We test Kerberoasting and AS-REP roasting, delegation abuse, ACL escalation and pass-the-hash, and assess Group Policy, trusts and hybrid Entra ID integration, delivering a tiered remediation roadmap mapped to MITRE ATT&CK.
When you need Active Directory Penetration Testing
- For enterprises running on-premises Active Directory
- After internal testing reveals AD escalation paths
- For hybrid AD and Entra ID environments
- To harden identity before or after a security incident
What you receive
- AD attack-path graph
- Escalation chains with evidence
- Tiered remediation roadmap
- Free retest after remediation
What’s included in your report
Every active directory penetration testing engagement concludes with a comprehensive, board-ready report and a working session to walk your team through it. Your report includes:
- An executive summary with overall risk posture for non-technical stakeholders
- Detailed technical findings, each with a step-by-step, copy-paste reproduction
- CVSS v3.1 severity ratings and business-impact context for every issue
- Prioritized, actionable remediation guidance your engineers can apply directly
- A complimentary retest to confirm fixes and update finding status
- A formal attestation letter for customers, auditors and compliance programs
Standards & frameworks
MITRE ATT&CK
Microsoft AD security best practices
PTES
Outcomes you can expect
After your active directory penetration testing, you will have clear, evidence-based visibility into your real security risk — not a scanner’s guesswork. You will know exactly which weaknesses an attacker could exploit, what the business impact would be, and the precise steps to fix them in priority order. Teams use our findings to close critical gaps, satisfy customer and regulator security requirements, and demonstrate due diligence to their board. With a complimentary retest included, you also get documented proof that the issues are genuinely resolved.
Engagement details & logistics
Every active directory penetration testing starts with a short, no-obligation scoping call to understand your goals, environment and constraints, followed by a fixed-price proposal and a clear statement of work. Most engagements are delivered fully remotely, with on-site work arranged where it genuinely adds value. Throughout testing we maintain an agreed communication cadence and escalate any critical, high-impact finding to you immediately rather than waiting for the final report. All work is performed under a signed NDA with strict data-handling controls, using safe, non-disruptive techniques and carefully coordinated rules of engagement to protect your production systems. On completion you receive your report and a walkthrough session, followed by a complimentary retest once your fixes are in place. Typical engagements are booked one to three weeks in advance, and urgent or pre-deadline testing can often be accommodated — just ask at hi@agentoffense.com.
Why organizations choose AgentOffense for Active Directory Penetration Testing
Our active directory penetration testing is delivered by senior offensive-security engineers who test the way real attackers do — manually, creatively and with a relentless focus on proving genuine, demonstrable impact. Here is what sets our engagements apart:
- Manual, exploit-driven testing that chains vulnerabilities the way a real attacker would, going far beyond what automated scanners can find.
- Reproducible proof for every finding, with copy-paste reproduction steps your engineers can follow and independently verify.
- Honest severity calibration so you invest in fixing what genuinely matters and avoid wasting effort on false positives and noise.
- Clear, business-focused reporting that speaks to engineers and executives alike, tying every issue to real-world impact.
- A complimentary retest included, so you get documented proof that your fixes actually close the attack path.
- Responsible, collaborative delivery with a named point of contact and secure handling of all data throughout the engagement.
Explore related services
Active Directory Penetration Testing is frequently scoped alongside our other offensive-security services for broader coverage. Explore related engagements that complement it:
Frequently asked questions
Do you use tools like BloodHound?
Yes, as one input. We combine attack-path mapping with manual validation to confirm which paths are truly exploitable.
Will testing lock out accounts?
No. We avoid aggressive brute-forcing and coordinate carefully to prevent account lockouts or disruption.
Can you test hybrid AD + Entra ID?
Yes — hybrid identity is a common source of escalation, and we assess the on-prem and cloud sides together.
Do you use tools like BloodHound?
Yes, as one input. We combine attack-path mapping with manual validation to confirm which paths are truly exploitable.
Will testing lock out accounts?
No. We avoid aggressive brute-forcing and coordinate carefully to prevent lockouts or disruption.
Will testing cause account lockouts?
No. We avoid aggressive brute-forcing and coordinate carefully to prevent lockouts or disruption.
Do you assess hybrid AD and Entra ID together?
Yes — hybrid identity is a common escalation path, and we assess the on-prem and cloud sides together.
How long does Active Directory testing take?
Typically one to two weeks depending on domain size and complexity, plus a retest window.
Do you validate tool output manually?
Yes. Attack-path tools are one input; we manually validate to confirm which paths are genuinely exploitable before reporting.