Reflecting Your Authentication: Look in the Mirror - It’s You
Authentication reflection was thought to be solved after MS08-068, but recent research shows that Windows still exposes multiple ways to coerce systems into authenticating to themselves. This talk explores modern reflection techniques involving Kerberos, NTLM, and SPN manipulation, and how they can still lead to privilege escalation or even domain compromise. I will also present a critical reflection vulnerability in Windows Admin Center (WAC) discovered in July 2025 and fixed by Microsoft in early 2026.
I’m a Senior Security Consultant at Semperis with experience across software development, systems, networking, and security. My research focuses on authentication mechanisms, protocol inconsistencies, and privilege-escalation techniques in Windows environments. I enjoy hunting bugs, exploring new technologies, and sharing research through publications and conferences. Microsoft recognized me among the Top 100 MSRC Security Researchers in 2020 and 2022.
