# AD activation objects count should be retrievable

AD-based activation objects are used by Windows for volume activation and related discovery workflows.

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-CFG-09

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<div class="test-byline"><div class="test-byline-avatars"><a class="test-byline-avatar test-byline-avatar--author" href="/contributors/soulemike" title="Michael Soule · Original author"><img src="https://github.com/soulemike.png" alt="Michael Soule" width="28" height="28" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /></a></div><div class="test-byline-meta"><span class="test-byline-text">Contributed by <a href="/contributors/soulemike">Michael Soule</a></span><a class="test-byline-link" href="/contributors">All contributors →</a></div></div>

<p class="test-part">Part of <a href="/docs/tests/ad">Active Directory</a> · Active Directory · Directory configuration · <a href="/docs/tests">All checks</a></p>

```powershell title="Run this check"
Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-CFG-09
```

## Overview

AD-based activation objects are used by Windows for volume activation and related discovery workflows. If these objects are created, deleted, or altered without authorization, it can indicate licensing/tampering activity and may also reflect broader Active Directory compromise or unauthorized configuration changes.

#### Control Type

**Operational**

#### Security Recommendation
- Treat activation-object changes as security-relevant change-management events.
- Restrict who can create/modify activation objects (least privilege) and remove unnecessary write permissions.
- Establish a known-good baseline for the number of activation objects per environment/forest and alert on deviations.
- Review recent directory change/audit events to identify the initiating account and purpose.

#### How the Test Works
- Enumerates activation-related objects stored in Active Directory.
- Counts the objects discovered in the activation container(s).
- Compares the count to an environment baseline and flags unexpected increases/decreases.

#### Related Tests
- [Test-MtAdWellKnownSecurityPrincipalsCount](/docs/commands/Test-MtAdWellKnownSecurityPrincipalsCount): Detects unexpected identity/config changes that may accompany tampering.
- [Test-MtAdRegisteredDhcpServersCount](/docs/commands/Test-MtAdRegisteredDhcpServersCount): Detects unauthorized network services registered in AD.

## Details

<details>
<summary>Every attribute of this check</summary>

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-CFG-09 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Directory configuration |
| Area | Infrastructure hardening |
| Resource type | Tenant |
| MITRE ATT&CK | None |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdAdActivationObjectsCount](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-09.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Ldap:Configuration/*:ReadProperty |

</details>

## Source

- Test: [`tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-09.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-09.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-09.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-09.md)