> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/active-directory/credentials/sam-database-dump.md).

# Extraction of the SAM database

Active Directory security notes for Extraction of the SAM database, covering enumeration, Kerberos, credentials, ACL abuse, lateral movement, exploitation workflow, and validation steps.

### What is SAM?

The **SAM**, or **Security Account Manager**, is a local Windows database containing the machine's local accounts.

It contains information related to:

* to local users;
* to local groups;
* local account hashes.

### Access required

To access SAM, elevated privileges are required.

In the lab, we use:

```bash
privilege::debug

token::elevate
```

The objective is to move into a more privileged context in order to access local secrets.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-39416c5de3e7556f19f10fc6322b13a593eb5b7d%2F%7B4114D558-5DFC-47E4-B42F-C62F694DB477%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### SAM Dump

In the lab:

```bash
lsadump::sam
```

This command allows you to extract information from the local SAM database.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0f0529a53de712d9d61cf0fde5f8adc7b71d548b%2F%7B9D4AA135-7EFE-4A48-9F49-26BD3789698E%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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