A Comprehensive Guide to Finding Service Accounts in Active Directory

Service accounts are essential in any enterprise environment, as they run automated processes such as managing applications or scripts. However, if not properly monitored and secured, these accounts can pose a significant security risk due to their elevated privileges. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to locate and secure service accounts within Active Directory (AD) and explore how Silverfort’s solutions can help enhance your organization’s security posture.

Why are Service Accounts a Security Risk? Service accounts are typically created to perform specific tasks or functions within an organization, such as running backup scripts or managing application deployments. These accounts are often granted elevated privileges to perform their designated tasks, which can make them attractive targets for attackers. If a service account is compromised, an attacker can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, disrupt critical processes, or even take control of other systems and accounts within the organization.

Finding Service Accounts in Active Directory The first step in securing service accounts is to identify and locate them within AD. Here are some ways to do it:

Use the Active Directory Users and Computers Console: One of the easiest ways to find service accounts is by using the Active Directory Users and Computers console. You can open the console by typing “dsa.msc” in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R). In the console, you can filter the list of users by selecting “Service Accounts” from the “Account Type” dropdown menu. This will display a list of all service accounts in your AD environment.
Use PowerShell Commands: You can also use PowerShell commands to find service accounts in AD. One such command is “Get-ADUser -Filter {AccountType -eq “ServiceAccount”}”. This command will retrieve a list of all service accounts in your AD environment. You can also use other filters such as “Name” or “Description” to narrow down the search results.
Check for Service Principal Names (SPNs): Another way to find service accounts is by checking for Service Principal Names (SPNs). SPNs are used to identify services and servers in AD. You can check for SPNs by opening the Active Directory Users and Computers console, right-clicking on a user object, and selecting “Properties”. In the Properties dialog box, select the “ServicePrincipalNames” tab, and look for any SPNs that are associated with the user object.
Check for Kerberos Tickets: Service accounts often have Kerberos tickets that allow them to authenticate to other systems and services. You can check for Kerberos tickets by using the “klist” command in PowerShell. This command will display a list of all Kerberos tickets held by the user, along with their expiration times.

Securing Service Accounts Once you have identified and located service accounts within AD, the next step is to secure them. Here are some best practices for securing service accounts:

Use Strong Passwords: The first line of defense against unauthorized access to service accounts is strong passwords. Make sure that all service account passwords are complex, unique, and regularly changed.
Limit Privileges: Service accounts should only have the minimum privileges required to perform their designated tasks. Limit the privileges by removing unnecessary permissions, and ensuring that the account is not a member of any unnecessary groups.
Restrictions on Password Settings: Enforce password settings restrictions such as password length, complexity, and age to ensure that service accounts have strong passwords. You can enforce these restrictions using Group Policy Objects (GPOs) or other security policies.
Monitoring and Auditing: Regularly monitor and audit service account activity to detect any suspicious behavior. Use tools such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, or Azure Active Directory (AAD) logs to monitor and analyze service account activity.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA for service accounts to add an extra layer of security. This will require users to provide additional forms of authentication, such as a fingerprint or one-time password, in addition to their password.
Silverfort’s Solutions: Silverfort offers advanced solutions that can help enhance the security of your service accounts. Their solutions use AI and machine learning algorithms to detect and prevent anomalies and suspicious behavior, providing real-time threat detection and response.

Conclusion Service accounts are essential in any enterprise environment, but they can pose a significant security risk if not properly monitored and secured. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can locate and secure service accounts within Active Directory and minimize the risk of unauthorized access or malicious activity. Additionally, Silverfort’s solutions can provide an added layer of security to your organization’s service accounts, helping protect your critical assets from cyber threats.