Incident Investigation ReportExecutive SummaryOn 2024.03.18, suspicious activities were detected on the corporate network involving unauthorized domain information gathering and multiple LDAP queries. This report details the incident, its potential impact, and recommended actions for mitigation and prevention.
Incident Details1. Affected Systems and Accounts- Workstation: ALPHA-WS-042 (192.168.10.75)
- Domain Controller: OMEGA-DC-001 (192.168.1.10)
- User Account: j_thompson
2. Chronological Event Sequence- 2024.03.18 14:59:47: User j_thompson initiated domain information gathering using BloodHound tool from ALPHA-WS-042.
- 2024.03.18 14:59:47: Multiple identical LDAP queries executed from ALPHA-WS-042 to OMEGA-DC-001.
- 2024.03.18 14:59:49: Domain information gathering process completed by user j_thompson.
3. Technical AnalysisThe incident involved the use of BloodHound, an Active Directory reconnaissance tool, to collect sensitive domain information. Concurrent LDAP queries suggest potential automated enumeration attempts. These activities indicate a possible attempt to map the network structure and identify potential attack vectors.
Risk AssessmentSeverity: INCIDENTImpact:- Potential exposure of sensitive domain structure and user information
- Risk of privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network
- Possible data exfiltration or preparation for future attacks
Recommended Actions1. Immediate Response- Isolate ALPHA-WS-042 from the network to prevent further unauthorized actions.
- Suspend user account j_thompson pending investigation.
- Preserve all relevant logs and system states for forensic analysis.
2. User and Account Management- Conduct a comprehensive review of j_thompson's account activities and permissions.
- Implement stricter access controls and monitoring for privileged accounts.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication across all user accounts.
3. Forensic Investigation- Perform in-depth analysis of OMEGA-DC-001 logs to identify all actions by j_thompson.
- Examine ALPHA-WS-042 for indicators of compromise, including malware scans and memory analysis.
- Review network traffic logs for potential data exfiltration attempts.
4. Security Enhancements- Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on all workstations.
- Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement capabilities.
- Enhance logging and alerting mechanisms for suspicious activities, particularly for domain enumeration and mass LDAP queries.
- Conduct regular security awareness training for all employees, focusing on insider threats and social engineering tactics.
ConclusionThe detected activities represent a significant security risk to the organization's network infrastructure. Immediate action is required to mitigate potential threats and prevent future incidents. Ongoing monitoring and security improvements are essential to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the corporate network.