nltest.exe

  • File Path: C:\Windows\system32\nltest.exe
  • Description: Microsoft Logon Server Test Utility

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 D0F2751CA874BAFDB8A263BB1D2D1F87
SHA1 0D4290A96E7B6C4883787BA44739B45AA4B59903
SHA256 4E8AA26AD71243D13F7EC156C31ACBF1A0F1041303570E4E5CB910CC6D990567
SHA384 60DA2F7E80A483FC1A2885FF5DB73355C4F41F8ACDBAFBA2E25C21F1E49F30B51EC61DF4E94DB604135F9B08AB128B66
SHA512 68F4C2EFE149D6363D8CC051DE2C916C93D2BF10501A7920BE6757E5FC40E0B0D37967C56693103EF99F93816E99E7603030833CB21F17B895581C457CD8CAA6
SSDEEP 3072:a7Y8UIPeSjSfCo5VMWT/zJeOdrRrSH1rTvEXiEvFxG+5wIoJTrZPOdUoSn4g0LGN:a7DnsCkxjVOiUoYSKfSBuxPIF4VVT
IMP 97476B99B5801A0CF4E2172400A1BF78
PESHA1 1426D90AB12E46A701109E49B703092318274333
PE256 2E9B660EA7C8BF6067B2E3E02DF7546E45FE9CF20E17BBCB8385C22A76C280E7

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

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.
  • Machine Type: 64-bit

File Scan

  • VirusTotal Detections: 0/71
  • VirusTotal Link: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/4e8aa26ad71243d13f7ec156c31acbf1a0f1041303570e4e5cb910cc6d990567/detection/

File Similarity (ssdeep match)

File Score
C:\Windows\system32\nltest.exe 80
C:\Windows\system32\nltest.exe 80

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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