nltest.exe

  • File Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nltest.exe
  • Description: Microsoft Logon Server Test Utility

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 13CD652E2687C1B24DADC5FD219B0084
SHA1 7231A47E52C2603FD76440D9D0241A3AFCC3948B
SHA256 246AABCEFCF3D661D6966FCBF09E70D6F0862AA51B696990331D073A3693F5F6
SHA384 AEE5A614C54B3FBA67A03DB82045945583A3DF22FCEAB4FAD5BB37703974A639254A68678CEEB0D1C6FB03408E3CE383
SHA512 AADCCE5B09803FCB1D8FE77B46B7E961277B708E9EB6F911917ACC9FA85AC3B5D691E116F3EC48DF87B18E6FD39CCD187EB6E2DB40299BC85D6A0D8762C742A1
SSDEEP 12288:w1RT1sgeJ+VkOnALfueO+/WO+ueO+ueOdN:w1RT9ALfueO+/WO+ueO+ueOdN

Runtime Data

Usage (stderr):

Usage: nltest [/OPTIONS]


    /SERVER:<ServerName> - Specify <ServerName>

    /QUERY - Query <ServerName> netlogon service
    /REPL - Force partial sync on <ServerName> BDC
    /SYNC - Force full sync on <ServerName> BDC
    /PDC_REPL - Force UAS change message from <ServerName> PDC

    /SC_QUERY:<DomainName> - Query secure channel for <Domain> on <ServerName>
    /SC_RESET:<DomainName>[\<DcName>] - Reset secure channel for <Domain> on <ServerName> to <DcName>
    /SC_VERIFY:<DomainName> - Verify secure channel for <Domain> on <ServerName>
    /SC_CHANGE_PWD:<DomainName> - Change a secure channel  password for <Domain> on <ServerName>
    /DCLIST:<DomainName> - Get list of DC's for <DomainName>
    /DCNAME:<DomainName> - Get the PDC name for <DomainName>
    /DSGETDC:<DomainName> - Call DsGetDcName /PDC /DS /DSP /GC /KDC
        /TIMESERV /GTIMESERV /WS /NETBIOS /DNS /IP /FORCE /WRITABLE /AVOIDSELF /LDAPONLY /BACKG /DS_6 /DS_8 /DS_9 /DS_10
        /TRY_NEXT_CLOSEST_SITE /SITE:<SiteName> /ACCOUNT:<AccountName> /RET_DNS /RET_NETBIOS
    /DNSGETDC:<DomainName> - Call DsGetDcOpen/Next/Close /PDC /GC
        /KDC /WRITABLE /LDAPONLY /FORCE /SITESPEC
    /DSGETFTI:<DomainName> - Call DsGetForestTrustInformation
        /UPDATE_TDO
    /DSGETSITE - Call DsGetSiteName
    /DSGETSITECOV - Call DsGetDcSiteCoverage
    /DSADDRESSTOSITE:[MachineName] - Call DsAddressToSiteNamesEx
        /ADDRESSES:<Address1,Address2,...>
    /PARENTDOMAIN - Get the name of the parent domain of this machine
    /WHOWILL:<Domain>* <User> [<Iteration>] - See if <Domain> will log on <User>
    /FINDUSER:<User> - See which trusted domain will log on <User>
    /TRANSPORT_NOTIFY - Notify netlogon of new transport

    /DBFLAG:<HexFlags> - New debug flag

    /USER:<UserName> - Query User info on <ServerName>

    /TIME:<Hex LSL> <Hex MSL> - Convert NT GMT time to ascii
    /LOGON_QUERY - Query number of cumulative logon attempts
    /DOMAIN_TRUSTS - Query domain trusts on <ServerName>
        /PRIMARY /FOREST /DIRECT_OUT /DIRECT_IN /ALL_TRUSTS /V
    /DSREGDNS - Force registration of all DC-specific DNS records
    /DSDEREGDNS:<DnsHostName> - Deregister DC-specific DNS records for specified DC
        /DOM:<DnsDomainName> /DOMGUID:<DomainGuid> /DSAGUID:<DsaGuid>
    /DSQUERYDNS - Query the status of the last update for all DC-specific DNS records

    /BDC_QUERY:<DomainName> - Query replication status of BDCs for <DomainName>

    /LIST_DELTAS:<FileName> - display the content of given change log file 

    /CDIGEST:<Message> /DOMAIN:<DomainName> - Get client digest
    /SDIGEST:<Message> /RID:<RID in hex> - Get server digest

    /SHUTDOWN:<Reason> [<Seconds>] - Shutdown <ServerName> for <Reason>
    /SHUTDOWN_ABORT - Abort a system shutdown

Loaded Modules:

Path
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll

Signature

  • Status: Signature verified.
  • Serial: 3300000266BD1580EFA75CD6D3000000000266
  • Thumbprint: A4341B9FD50FB9964283220A36A1EF6F6FAA7840
  • Issuer: CN=Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
  • Subject: CN=Microsoft Windows, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US

File Metadata

  • Original Filename: nltestrk.exe.mui
  • Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
  • File Version: 10.0.17763.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
  • Product Version: 10.0.17763.1
  • Language: English (United States)
  • Legal Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

File Similarity (ssdeep match)

File Score
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nltest.exe 74
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nltest.exe 55
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nltest.exe 72

Possible Misuse

The following table contains possible examples of nltest.exe being misused. While nltest.exe is not inherently malicious, its legitimate functionality can be abused for malicious purposes.

Source Source File Example License
sigma win_lolbas_execution_of_nltest.yml title: Correct Execution of Nltest.exe DRL 1.0
sigma win_lolbas_execution_of_nltest.yml description: The attacker might use LOLBAS nltest.exe for discovery of domain controllers, domain trusts, parent domain and the current user permissions. DRL 1.0
sigma win_lolbas_execution_of_nltest.yml - https://jpcertcc.github.io/ToolAnalysisResultSheet/details/nltest.htm DRL 1.0
sigma win_lolbas_execution_of_nltest.yml - attack.t1482 # enumerate trusted domains by using commands such as nltest /domain_trusts DRL 1.0
sigma win_lolbas_execution_of_nltest.yml ProcessName\|endswith: nltest.exe DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_malware_trickbot_recon_activity.yml - '\nltest.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_nltest_recon.yml title: Recon Activity with NLTEST DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_nltest_recon.yml description: Detects nltest commands that can be used for information discovery DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_nltest_recon.yml Image\|endswith: '\nltest.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_spoolsv_child_processes.yml - \nltest.exe DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_trust_discovery.yml description: Identifies execution of nltest.exe and dsquery.exe for domain trust discovery. This technique is used by attackers to enumerate Active Directory trusts. DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_trust_discovery.yml Image\|endswith: '\nltest.exe' DRL 1.0
LOLBAS Nltest.yml Name: Nltest.exe  
LOLBAS Nltest.yml - Command: nltest.exe /SERVER:192.168.1.10 /QUERY  
LOLBAS Nltest.yml - c:\windows\system32\nltest.exe  
LOLBAS Nltest.yml - https://ss64.com/nt/nltest.html  
atomic-red-team index.md - Atomic Test #2: Windows - Discover domain trusts with nltest [windows] MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team index.md - Atomic Test #3: Remote System Discovery - nltest [windows] MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team windows-index.md - Atomic Test #2: Windows - Discover domain trusts with nltest [windows] MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team windows-index.md - Atomic Test #3: Remote System Discovery - nltest [windows] MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1016.md Upon successful execution, cmd.exe will spawn ipconfig /all, net config workstation, net view /all /domain, nltest /domain_trusts. Output will be via stdout. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1016.md nltest /domain_trusts MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1018.md - Atomic Test #3 - Remote System Discovery - nltest MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1018.md ## Atomic Test #3 - Remote System Discovery - nltest MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1018.md Upon successful execution, cmd.exe will execute nltest.exe against a target domain to retrieve a list of domain controllers. Output will be via stdout. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1018.md nltest.exe /dclist:#{target_domain} MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md <blockquote>Adversaries may attempt to gather information on domain trust relationships that may be used to identify lateral movement opportunities in Windows multi-domain/forest environments. Domain trusts provide a mechanism for a domain to allow access to resources based on the authentication procedures of another domain.(Citation: Microsoft Trusts) Domain trusts allow the users of the trusted domain to access resources in the trusting domain. The information discovered may help the adversary conduct SID-History Injection, Pass the Ticket, and Kerberoasting.(Citation: AdSecurity Forging Trust Tickets)(Citation: Harmj0y Domain Trusts) Domain trusts can be enumerated using the DSEnumerateDomainTrusts() Win32 API call, .NET methods, and LDAP.(Citation: Harmj0y Domain Trusts) The Windows utility Nltest is known to be used by adversaries to enumerate domain trusts.(Citation: Microsoft Operation Wilysupply)</blockquote> MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md - Atomic Test #2 - Windows - Discover domain trusts with nltest MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md ## Atomic Test #2 - Windows - Discover domain trusts with nltest MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md Uses the nltest command to discover domain trusts. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md Requires the installation of nltest via Windows RSAT or the Windows Server AD DS role. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md nltest /domain_trusts MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md ##### Description: nltest.exe from RSAT must be present on disk MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1482.md WHERE nltest.exe >NUL 2>&1 MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
stockpile 26c8b8b5-7b5b-4de1-a128-7d37fb14f517.yml nltest /dsgetdc:%USERDOMAIN% Apache-2.0
stockpile 26c8b8b5-7b5b-4de1-a128-7d37fb14f517.yml nltest /dsgetdc:$env:USERDOMAIN Apache-2.0

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