Registered DHCP servers count should be retrievable

Contributed by Michael SouleAll contributors →

Part of Active Directory · Active Directory · Directory configuration · All checks

Run this check

Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-CFG-11

Overview

DHCP servers registered in Active Directory are authorized to provide IP addresses to clients. If unauthorized DHCP servers are registered (or legitimate servers are removed), clients may receive incorrect network settings, experience instability, or be exposed to man-in-the-middle attacks via rogue DHCP.

Control Type

Operational

Security Recommendation

• Maintain a strict allowlist of approved DHCP servers and ensure only those servers are registered in AD.
• Remove stale/unneeded DHCP server registrations as part of routine hygiene.
• Restrict permissions for DHCP registration operations to only the DHCP administrators and automation workflows you trust.
• Alert on any change in the number of registered DHCP servers.

How the Test Works

• Searches Active Directory for directory objects representing authorized/registered DHCP servers.
• Counts the number of such registered server objects.
• Compares the count to an environment baseline and flags unexpected additions/removals.

Related Tests

• Test-MtAdWellKnownSecurityPrincipalsCount: Helps confirm AD identity integrity.
• Test-MtAdEnterpriseCaCount: Complements service authorization checks for certificate infrastructure.

Details

Every attribute of this check

Field	Value
Test ID	AD-CFG-11
Severity	Info
Suite	Active Directory
Product	Active Directory
Feature	Directory configuration
Area	Infrastructure hardening
Resource type	Tenant
MITRE ATT&CK	None
PowerShell test	Test-MtAdRegisteredDhcpServersCount
Services	ActiveDirectory
Permissions	ActiveDirectory:Ldap:Configuration/*:ReadProperty

Source

• Test: tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-11.ps1
• Documentation: tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-11.md