Suspicious Active Directory Structure Export Through Ldifde.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Active Directory Structure Export Through Ldifde.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 99d06056-d823-5563-8394-5575989b713a
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of "ldifde.exe" to export organizational Active Directory structure.
references:
    - https://businessinsights.bitdefender.com/deep-dive-into-a-backdoordiplomacy-attack-a-study-of-an-attackers-toolkit
    - https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5743766-Global-Threat-Report-2019.html
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc731033(v=ws.11)
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-19
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1087.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_ldif:
        - Image|endswith: '\ldifde.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ldifde.exe'
    selection_cmd:
        CommandLine|contains: '-f'
    filter_import:
        CommandLine|contains: ' -i'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium