ldapsearch.exe
Sources: 300M+ executions observed in the wild.
Summary
LDAP Search utility. Command-line tool for querying LDAP directories (Active Directory). Used for AD reconnaissance to enumerate users, groups, computers, OUs, and trust relationships.
ldapsearch.exe is the 1651st most commonly executed Windows program in EchoTrail's dataset, observed 528 times across enterprise environments. It typically runs from C:\... and it is most often launched by cmd.exe.
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Behavior
Top Paths
- C:\...100%
Top Hashes (SHA256)
- db85064c9e22add333f3a4326b538a506d52f7de41043836a635e55ce5fe424698.11%
- 8bf5f235b9491b459c1cf1ee3114bf5602b09b592200216bd81432d20b65906e1.89%
Process Ancestry
Top Parents
- cmd.exe96.59%
Security Analysis
What does ldapsearch.exe normally do?
Not a Windows built-in. Part of OpenLDAP tools or RSAT. Used by AD administrators for directory queries and troubleshooting.
When is ldapsearch.exe suspicious?
Querying sensitive AD attributes (userPassword, unicodePwd, msDS-ManagedPassword). Broad enumeration queries (objectClass=user with no filter). Execution by non-admin users. Running from unusual paths.
How do attackers abuse ldapsearch.exe?
AD RECONNAISSANCE: Attackers use ldapsearch to query Active Directory: - Enumerate all users, groups, and computers - Find privileged accounts and group memberships - Discover service accounts with SPNs (pre-Kerberoasting) - Identify trust relationships - Extract AD schema information
Detection guidance
MEDIUM-CONFIDENCE: - ldapsearch.exe execution on non-admin workstations - Broad LDAP queries (objectClass=*) - Queries targeting sensitive attributes - ldapsearch in combination with other AD recon tools DATA SOURCES: Process creation (Sysmon 1), LDAP query logging (if enabled)
False positive notes
AD administrators and IAM teams use ldapsearch for directory management. Scripts that integrate with AD for user provisioning. SCCM and other management tools may invoke LDAP queries.
Related Processes
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