ADExplorer Writing Complete AD Snapshot Into .dat File

Title: ADExplorer Writing Complete AD Snapshot Into .dat File
Status: experimental
Description:Detects the dual use tool ADExplorer writing a complete AD snapshot into a .dat file. This can be used by attackers to extract data for Bloodhound, usernames for password spraying or use the meta data for social engineering. The snapshot doesn't contain password hashes but there have been cases, where administrators put passwords in the comment field.
References:
  -https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/sysinternals/downloads/adexplorer
  -https://github.com/c3c/ADExplorerSnapshot.py/tree/f700904defac330802bbfedd1d8ffd9248f4ee24
  -https://www.packetlabs.net/posts/scattered-spider-is-a-young-ransomware-gang-exploiting-large-corporations/
  -https://www.nccgroup.com/us/research-blog/lapsus-recent-techniques-tactics-and-procedures/
  -https://trustedsec.com/blog/adexplorer-on-engagements
Author: Arnim Rupp (Nextron Systems), Thomas Patzke
Date: 2025-07-09
modified:None
Tags:

• -'attack.discovery'
• -'attack.t1087.002'
• -'attack.t1069.002'
• -'attack.t1482'

Logsource:

• category: file_event
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      -'\ADExp.exe'
      -'\ADExplorer.exe'
      -'\ADExplorer64.exe'
      -'\ADExplorer64a.exe'

    TargetFilename|endswith: '.dat'
  condition:selection
Falsepositives:
  -Legitimate use of ADExplorer by administrators creating .dat snapshots
Level: medium