Conquering the Enterprise: My CRTE Certification Journey

Hey everyone! I'm excited to share my journey through the Certified Red Teaming Expert (CRTE) certification. This hands-on experience focused on the intricacies of advanced Active Directory penetration testing, and I wanted to walk you through my personal experience with the course, the exam, and my overall takeaways.

What is CRTE?

The CRTE is a completely hands-on certification designed to test your ability to assess the security of complex, multi-domain and multi-forest Windows environments. It’s not just about exploiting individual machines; it's about understanding and compromising entire enterprise infrastructures.

Key Skills Covered:

The CRTE validates expertise in a wide range of advanced red teaming skills, including:

• Active Directory Enumeration
• Abusing built-in functionality for code execution
• Local and Domain Privilege Escalation
• Credentials Replay
• Using administration tools for lateral movement
• Bypassing countermeasures (Application Whitelisting, Anti-Virus)
• Pivoting through Windows machines
• Advanced Kerberos attacks (Kerberoasting, Delegation)
• Domain Persistence and Dominance (Golden/Silver Tickets, Skeleton Keys, DCSync)
• Forest and Inter-forest trust attacks
• Abusing SQL Server Trusts
• Lateral movement and hunting for business secrets
• And much more!

The Course Material

The CRTE course felt like a natural progression from the CRTP, but with a significant leap in complexity and depth. It wasn't just a rehash; it introduced critical new modules that reflect the realities of modern enterprise environments: gMSA, LAPS, Bastion Hosts, MDE Bypass, WDAC, and Azure AD Sync. These additions were not just theoretical; they were thoroughly explored through hands-on lab exercises. I committed to an intensive 20-day sprint, working through the entire course content, including all 60 lab exercises.

The lab environment was, in a word, exhilarating. Navigating an infrastructure with 8 forests and 21 computer objects felt like stepping into a real-world enterprise network. Each of the 60 flags served as a practical application of the course material, making the learning process both engaging and effective. I particularly enjoyed the modules on bypassing MDE and WDAC. The challenge of building custom binaries and crafting payloads was incredibly rewarding. It wasn't just about following instructions; it was about understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing creative solutions. This section of the course truly felt like a deep dive into advanced red teaming techniques, and I found myself genuinely excited to tackle each new challenge.

The Exam

The 48-hour exam was intense but rewarding. I found that thorough enumeration and understanding AD misconfigurations were key, as the environment is fully patched, negating the use of typical exploits. I was genuinely surprised at how quickly I established a foothold, compromising three machines within three hours. BloodHound became my guide, illuminating clear attack paths to the next targets. The real challenge, and a notable difference from the CRTP, was navigating the fully patched environment and bypassing MDE and Defender. It demanded a deeper understanding of Windows internals and creative thinking. Though intense, the pace was manageable; I completed the hands-on portion comfortably, and the subsequent 40-page report, filled with practical recommendations, was finished well within 24 hours.

Exam Structure and Certification Details

• The exam environment is a real-world, fully patched AD setup.
• Focus is on enumeration and attack path construction.
• Detailed report submission is required.
• Certification is valid for three years, with a free renewal option before expiry.
• Re-attempt fee of $99, with a one-month cooldown period.
• After 3 total attempts, a 6-month cool down period is required.

Who Should Take CRTE?

The CRTE certification isn't for the faint of heart, but it's an incredibly valuable asset for those serious about advancing their red teaming capabilities. If you're someone who thrives on complex challenges and enjoys dissecting intricate systems, the CRTE is tailor-made for you. This certification is particularly beneficial for experienced red teamers looking to specialize in enterprise-level Active Directory environments. It goes beyond basic penetration testing, demanding a deep understanding of AD internals, trust relationships, and advanced attack techniques. If you've already mastered the fundamentals and are eager to tackle real-world scenarios involving multiple domains and forests, the CRTE will provide the practical skills and confidence you need.

Furthermore, the CRTE is essential for cybersecurity professionals who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of how real-world attacks unfold within complex enterprise networks. It’s not just about learning to exploit vulnerabilities; it's about understanding the attacker's mindset and developing the ability to identify and mitigate subtle misconfigurations that can lead to catastrophic breaches. For blue teamers, the CRTE provides invaluable insights into offensive tactics, enabling them to strengthen their defenses and proactively identify potential weaknesses. For consultants and security auditors, the CRTE demonstrates a high level of expertise in assessing and securing complex Windows environments, enhancing their credibility and marketability. Ultimately, the CRTE is for anyone who desires to truly master the art of advanced Active Directory penetration testing and contribute significantly to the security posture of modern enterprises.

Final Thoughts:

The CRTE isn’t just about adding another badge to the resume. It’s about fundamentally changing how you approach enterprise security. It’s about developing a mindset that sees the entire network as a potential attack surface.

If you're considering this certification, be prepared to invest time and energy. It’s not a weekend project. But the payoff is immense. You’ll emerge with a deeper understanding of Active Directory security, a sharpened ability to think critically, and the confidence to tackle even the most complex enterprise environments.

For me, the CRTE was a transformative experience. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone and solidified my passion for red teaming. It’s a reminder that in cybersecurity, continuous learning and adaptation are key. And honestly, I can't wait to see what challenges come next.