Data/AuditChecks/ADAttackPathChecks.json

{
  "categoryId": "attackpath",
  "categoryName": "Attack Paths",
  "categoryDescription": "Computed privilege-escalation paths to Tier-0, derived from the collected ACL and privileged-group data.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "id": "ADPATH-001",
      "name": "Escalation Paths to Tier-0",
      "description": "Models non-default control over Tier-0 objects (the domain root, AdminSDHolder, the Domain Controllers OU, and the GPO / Configuration / Schema containers) as privilege-escalation PATHS and reports the concrete takeover technique each one enables. Any non-default principal holding GenericAll / WriteDacl / WriteOwner / replication rights over one of these objects is a one-hop path to Domain Admin equivalence. It also flags non-default groups nested inside a Tier-0 group as escalation pivots — controlling such a group, or being added to it, confers the Tier-0 group's privileges. Full domain-wide transitive control-chain computation (low-priv user through a chain of GenericWrite/AddMember edges to Domain Admins) requires full-domain ACL collection, which is a separate roadmap item.",
      "severity": "Critical",
      "subcategory": "Attack Path Analysis",
      "recommendedValue": "No non-default principals have control over Tier-0 objects.",
      "remediationSteps": "For each reported path, remove the attacker-controllable ACE from the target object's DACL (Active Directory Users and Computers > Advanced Security, or Set-Acl), or remove the principal from whatever group grants it. Only Tier-0 administrators should hold GenericAll/WriteDacl/WriteOwner or replication rights on the domain root, AdminSDHolder, the Domain Controllers OU, and the Policies/Configuration/Schema containers.",
      "referenceUrl": "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/",
      "referenceTitle": "MITRE ATT&CK T1098 — Account Manipulation (ACL-based privilege escalation)",
      "compliance": {
        "nistSp80053": ["AC-5", "AC-6"],
        "mitreAttack": ["T1098", "T1222.001", "T1484.001"],
        "cisAd": []
      }
    }
  ]
}