> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/a-process-queried-the-adfs-database-decryption-key-via-ldap.md).
# A process queried the ADFS database decryption key via LDAP
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| Detector Tags | LDAP Analytics (Client), LDAP Analytics (Server), Active Directory Federation Services Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates (T1649) |
| Severity | Low |
### Description
A process queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key) via LDAP.
### Attacker's Goals
* An attacker wanting to perform a golden SAML attack will want to steal the ADFS token-signing certificates.
* To steal the token-signing certificates, the attacker will need to access the ADFS database
* To access the encrypted ADFS database, an attacker will attempt to retrieve the decryption key via an LDAP query.
### Investigative actions
* Check if the LDAP search query was allowed for the user (logged on at event time) or process.
* Check for unusual ADFS logins.
* Check the process that initiated the query.
* Investigate the LDAP search query for any suspicious indicators.
### Variations
LDAP query explicitly queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key)
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates (T1649) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A process queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key) via LDAP.
**Attacker's Goals**
* An attacker wanting to perform a golden SAML attack will want to steal the ADFS token-signing certificates.
* To steal the token-signing certificates, the attacker will need to access the ADFS database
* To access the encrypted ADFS database, an attacker will attempt to retrieve the decryption key via an LDAP query.
**Investigative actions**
* Check if the LDAP search query was allowed for the user (logged on at event time) or process.
* Check for unusual ADFS logins.
* Check the process that initiated the query.
* Investigate the LDAP search query for any suspicious indicators.
A process explicitly queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key) via LDAP
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates (T1649) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A process queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key) via LDAP.
**Attacker's Goals**
* An attacker wanting to perform a golden SAML attack will want to steal the ADFS token-signing certificates.
* To steal the token-signing certificates, the attacker will need to access the ADFS database
* To access the encrypted ADFS database, an attacker will attempt to retrieve the decryption key via an LDAP query.
**Investigative actions**
* Check if the LDAP search query was allowed for the user (logged on at event time) or process.
* Check for unusual ADFS logins.
* Check the process that initiated the query.
* Investigate the LDAP search query for any suspicious indicators.
LDAP query queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key)
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates (T1649) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A process queried the ADFS database decryption key (DKM key) via LDAP.
**Attacker's Goals**
* An attacker wanting to perform a golden SAML attack will want to steal the ADFS token-signing certificates.
* To steal the token-signing certificates, the attacker will need to access the ADFS database
* To access the encrypted ADFS database, an attacker will attempt to retrieve the decryption key via an LDAP query.
**Investigative actions**
* Check if the LDAP search query was allowed for the user (logged on at event time) or process.
* Check for unusual ADFS logins.
* Check the process that initiated the query.
* Investigate the LDAP search query for any suspicious indicators.
---
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