> 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/pkinit-tgt-authentication-request.md).
# PKINIT TGT authentication request
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
Windows Event Collector OR XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)
|
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| Detector Tags | Active Directory Certificate Services Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550), Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A Kerberos TGT was requested using PKINIT. This may indicate an attack on Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), such as shadow credential exploitation or certificate-based authentication abuse.
### Attacker's Goals
Gain unauthorized access to high-privilege accounts by abusing certificate-based authentication mechanisms.
### Investigative actions
* Verify if Windows Hello for Business (WHfB) is deployed and actively used in the environment, as it may explain the PKINIT activity.
* Inspect the Key Credentials attribute of the target account for recent modifications.
* Review associated service tickets or lateral movement activities tied to the target account.
* Investigate unusual certificate issuance or PKI activities.
### Variations
Suspicious PKINIT TGT authentication request
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550), Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A Kerberos TGT was requested using PKINIT. This may indicate an attack on Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), such as shadow credential exploitation or certificate-based authentication abuse.
**Attacker's Goals**
Gain unauthorized access to high-privilege accounts by abusing certificate-based authentication mechanisms.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify if Windows Hello for Business (WHfB) is deployed and actively used in the environment, as it may explain the PKINIT activity.
* Inspect the Key Credentials attribute of the target account for recent modifications.
* Review associated service tickets or lateral movement activities tied to the target account.
* Investigate unusual certificate issuance or PKI activities.
Abnormal PKINIT TGT authentication request
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550), Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A Kerberos TGT was requested using PKINIT. This may indicate an attack on Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), such as shadow credential exploitation or certificate-based authentication abuse.
**Attacker's Goals**
Gain unauthorized access to high-privilege accounts by abusing certificate-based authentication mechanisms.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify if Windows Hello for Business (WHfB) is deployed and actively used in the environment, as it may explain the PKINIT activity.
* Inspect the Key Credentials attribute of the target account for recent modifications.
* Review associated service tickets or lateral movement activities tied to the target account.
* Investigate unusual certificate issuance or PKI activities.
---
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