Concepts

SMB

While analysing SMB pakcets in wireshark we can use filter ` ntlmssp.challenge.target_name

NTLM (NT LAN Manager) is a Microsoft authentication protocol that uses a 3-step challenge-response mechanism:

1. Negotiate (Type 1): Client → Server Client proposes capabilities.

2. Challenge (Type 2): Server → Client Server responds with a challenge, including the target_name.

3. Authenticate (Type 3): Client → Server Client responds with credentials hashed using the challenge.

What is ntlmssp.challenge.target_name?

• ntlmssp.challenge refers to the Type 2 challenge message.

• target_name is a field within this message that indicates the authentication realm or domain that the server expects the client to authenticate against.