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Only install and run it on systems you own or have explicit permission to test.
Kerberos is the default authentication protocol used in Microsoft Active Directory environments, making it one of the most important targets during penetration testing and red team engagements. One of the most powerful tools for Kerberos enumeration is Kerbrute, a fast and stealthy tool used to discover valid usernames and perform password spraying attacks.
In this complete guide, you will learn how to install Kerbrute on Linux, how Kerberos works, and how to use Kerbrute for Active Directory enumeration and penetration testing.
This guide is ideal for:
- Penetration testers
- Red team professionals
- Cybersecurity students
- Ethical hackers
- Active Directory security engineers
What is Kerberos?
Kerberos is a secure authentication protocol used to verify user identities in enterprise networks. It uses encrypted tickets instead of passwords to authenticate users securely.
Kerberos is primarily used in:
- Microsoft Active Directory environments
- Windows domain networks
- Enterprise authentication systems
- Corporate internal networks
- Hybrid Windows-Linux environments
- Kerberos provides:
- Secure authentication
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Mutual authentication
- Protection against credential interception
Because Kerberos is widely used, it is a primary target during Active Directory penetration testing.
What is Kerbrute?
Kerbrute is a powerful open-source tool used for Kerberos enumeration, password spraying, and brute force attacks in Active Directory environments.
Kerbrute communicates directly with the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) to test usernames and passwords without using SMB, LDAP, or other protocols.
Kerbrute allows penetration testers to:
- Enumerate valid domain users
- Perform password spraying attacks
- Brute force passwords
- Identify weak accounts
- Test Active Directory authentication security
Kerbrute is written in Go and is known for its speed and stealth.
Why Kerbrute is Important in Penetration Testing
Kerbrute is critical during the early stages of Active Directory penetration testing because it helps identify valid usernames.
Attackers and penetration testers often follow this workflow:
- Enumerate domain users using Kerbrute
- Perform password spraying
- Gain valid credentials
- Access domain resources
- Escalate privileges
- Compromise the domain
Kerbrute is often the first step toward domain compromise.
How Kerberos Authentication Works
Kerberos authentication involves three components:
- Client (user)
- Key Distribution Center (KDC)
- Service server
Authentication process:
- User requests authentication from KDC
- KDC verifies user identity
- KDC issues Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT)
- User requests service ticket
- User accesses network resource
Kerberos does not transmit passwords over the network, making it more secure.
Kerbrute Features
Kerbrute provides several powerful features:
- Fast multi-threaded enumeration
- Kerberos password spraying
- Username discovery
- Password brute forcing
- No domain credentials required
- Cross-platform support
- Stealthy operation
Kerbrute is widely used in:
- Red team operations
- Active Directory penetration testing
- Security audits
- Capture The Flag competitions
Legal & ethical reminder: Do not use Kerbrute against systems you do not own or do not have explicit, written permission to test. Unauthorized testing is illegal and unethical.
How to Install Kerbrute on Linux
Method 1: Install Kerbrute Using GitHub Repository (Recommended)
This section explains how to install Kerbrute on Kali Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, or any Linux distribution.
1. Firstly, head over to Google and search for GitHub Kerbrute. This search result will return a GitHub repository. The first result is the official link to the Kerbrute tool.
The tool was uploaded by ropnop on GitHub. You can click here to get the link to the repository.
2. In the repository main page, you will find a list of files that makes up the tool. On the left bottom corner, you will see a release version number, click on it and it will redirect you to a new page.
The new page contains several versions and platforms you can install Kerbrute. This include Windows, Linux, and Darwin OS.
Since I am installing the tool on Kali Linux, I downloaded the kerbrute_linux_amd64 file and proceeded to installing it.
3. After downloading the file, you need to make the file executable by right-clicking on it and selecting properties from the options. Set the file to execute as a program and close.
4. Proceed to your Linux terminal and run the following commands:
mv kerbrute_linux_amd64 kerbrute
This command renames the file in the same folder, changing its name from kerbrute_linux_amd64 → kerbrute.
Why do this?
Convenience: The downloaded binary’s name often includes platform details (_linux_amd64), which makes it cumbersome to type every time.
Standardization: By renaming it to just kerbrute, it aligns with typical Linux command naming conventions, so you can simply type:
kerbrute -help
instead of:
../kerbrute_linux_amd64 - help
Then I ran the following command:
chmod +x kerbrute
What Chmod does
chmod changes a file’s permissions. The +x adds the execute permission to the file named kerbrute. After this, the file can be run as a program (for example ./kerbrute), assuming it’s a valid executable (binary or script).
5. After renaming it, I moved it into the /usr/local/bin directory in my system’s PATH, so I can run it from anywhere:
After placing the binary in the PATH and making it executable, I ran kerbrute by itself. If everything is correct the tool will print a brief ASCII banner, version information (commit hash and build date), a short description of its purpose, and a help summary of available commands and flags. This output is a good sanity check: it proves the file is runnable and shows the subcommands (userenum, bruteforce, passwordspray, etc.) and options (domain, DC, threads, --safe, etc.) you can use. Don’t skip the warning the tool prints - failed Kerberos pre-authentication attempts count as failed logins and can lock accounts, so only proceed in authorized test environments.
And that is it!
Method 2: Install Kerbrute Using Precompiled Binary
Step 1: Download Kerbrute
Step 2: Rename the binary
Step 3: Make executable
Step 4: Move to system path
Step 5: Verify installation
Kerbrute is now installed successfully.
Method 3: Install Kerbrute Using Go
Install Go:
Clone repository:
Build Kerbrute:
Move binary:
How to Use Kerbrute for Kerberos Enumeration
Kerbrute provides multiple commands for enumeration and password attacks.
Kerbrute User Enumeration Example
Create username list:
Run Kerbrute:
Output example:
This confirms valid domain users.
Kerbrute Password Spraying Example
Password spraying tests one password against many users.
Output:
Credentials discovered successfully.
Kerbrute Brute Force Example
Brute force single user:
Brute force multiple users:
Real-World Active Directory Attack Scenario
Penetration testers commonly use Kerbrute in this workflow:
Step 1: Discover domain controller
Step 2: Enumerate users
Step 3: Password spraying
Step 4: Access domain using credentials
Tools used after Kerbrute include:
- Evil-WinRM
- CrackMapExec
- Impacket
How Defenders Detect Kerbrute Attacks
Kerbrute generates authentication events in Windows Event Logs:
Event IDs:
- 4768
- 4771
Security teams should monitor:
- Failed authentication attempts
- High authentication volume
- Password spraying patterns
How to Protect Against Kerbrute Attacks
Organizations should implement:
- Strong password policies
- Account lockout policies
- Multi-factor authentication
- Active Directory monitoring
- Security event logging
Why Kerbrute is Essential for Cybersecurity Professionals
Kerbrute is one of the most important tools for Active Directory security testing. It enables fast, reliable enumeration of Kerberos accounts and helps penetration testers identify weak authentication practices.
Kerbrute is widely used in:
- Professional penetration testing
- Red team engagements
- Cybersecurity labs
- Hack The Box environments
- Enterprise security assessments
Conclusion
Kerbrute is a powerful and essential tool for Kerberos enumeration and Active Directory penetration testing. It allows security professionals to identify valid users, perform password spraying, and discover weak credentials.
Understanding how to install and use Kerbrute on Linux is critical for anyone working in cybersecurity, penetration testing, or Active Directory security.
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