AD-KRBTGT-02: KRBTGT last logon should be investigated
| ID | AD-KRBTGT-02 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory (on-premises) |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Account security |
| Security area | Authentication |
| Resource type | User |
| MITRE ATT&CK | T1078.001 |
| Reads from | On-premises Active Directory |
What this checks and how to fix it
Section titled “What this checks and how to fix it”The KRBTGT account is a service account that should never have interactive logons. It exists solely for the KDC service to use internally for Kerberos ticket operations. Any logon activity for this account may indicate:
Security Concerns:
- Suspicious Activity: Interactive logons suggest potential compromise or misuse
- Account Misuse: Administrators incorrectly attempting to use the account
- Attack Indicators: Attackers may attempt to activate or use the account
The KRBTGT account should:
- Always remain disabled (UAC = 514)
- Never have interactive logons
- Only be used internally by the KDC service
Control Type
Section titled “Control Type”Operational
Security Recommendation
Section titled “Security Recommendation”-
Never enable the KRBTGT account:
- Standard UAC should be 514 (disabled, normal account)
- Enabling this account creates a significant security risk
-
Monitor for logon attempts:
- Any logon activity should be investigated immediately
- Check security logs for attempted logons to this account
-
Audit account changes:
- Monitor for UAC changes
- Alert on any modifications to the KRBTGT account
How the Test Works
Section titled “How the Test Works”This test retrieves the KRBTGT account and checks:
- Last logon timestamp (should be null/never)
- Account enabled status (should be disabled)
- Password last set date
Related Tests
Section titled “Related Tests”Test-MtAdKrbtgtPasswordLastSet- Checks KRBTGT password ageTest-MtAdKrbtgtNonStandardUacCount- Validates KRBTGT UAC settings
Mito check. Author: soulemike. Open-source licences.
Open-source licences. CIS Benchmark material © Center for Internet Security, Inc.; CISA SCuBA baselines are public domain (CC0).
© 2026 Virtual Petals. Mito is a Virtual Petals service, hosted in Microsoft Azure UAE North.
