Malicious NTDS Database Staging to Audit Directory (via file_event)
- Product
- windows
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-09-06
- Updated
- 2026-09-06
ATT&CK techniques
Cred AccessRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects creation of an ntds.dit Active Directory database copy under a C drive audit Active Directory path. During the Anubis ransomware intrusion the operators exfiltrated domain credentials by copying the NTDS database into an audit directory and archiving it, an activity that does not occur during normal operations.
Reporting behind it
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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