---
id: dsinternals
version: "1.2.5"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# dsinternals — Directory Services Internals Library

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 76.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

dsinternals is a Python library for interacting with Windows Active Directory at the internals level. It provides native classes and functions to read and manipulate directory service data, drawing inspiration from the DS Internals PowerShell module. The library depends on pyopenssl and pycryptodomex for cryptographic operations needed to work with AD authentication and data structures.

The package is aimed at developers and administrators who need programmatic access to AD internals—such as reading credential material, parsing NTDS databases, or performing directory service operations that go beyond standard LDAP queries. It runs on Python 3.4 and later across OS-independent platforms, though its primary use case is Windows domain environments.

Use it for:

- Extract and analyze password hashes from Active Directory NTDS databases for security auditing
- Automate credential extraction and validation in penetration testing workflows
- Parse and inspect AD replication data and directory service structures programmatically
- Build custom AD management tools that require low-level access to directory internals
- Forensic analysis of compromised AD environments and credential theft investigation

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Interact with Windows Active Directory by reading and manipulating directory service internals through Python, providing native classes and functions for AD operations.

Yes, if you need programmatic access to Windows Active Directory internals for security research, penetration testing, or AD administration. The low install friction, permissive MIT license, and recent maintenance activity support adoption. However, the aging maintenance status (194 days since last release) and narrow use case (Windows AD-specific) mean it's not a general-purpose tool—install only if your workflow specifically requires AD internals access.

## Install

pip install dsinternals
uv add dsinternals
poetry add dsinternals

## Installing dsinternals

Before you install: Low friction install with two well-established cryptographic dependencies (pyopenssl, pycryptodomex). Last release was recent (2026-02-01), though the project shows aging maintenance signals with 194 days since last update.

License in practice: MIT license permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.

Quickstart:

pip install dsinternals

from dsinternals import *
# Use AD internals classes and functions to interact with directory services

Requires Windows Active Directory environment or access to AD data sources; designed for Windows domain contexts.

Verify before relying:

- Specific AD operations supported (credential extraction, NTDS parsing, replication, etc.) not detailed in excerpt
- Whether package works with modern AD versions or has known compatibility constraints
- Scope of 'internals' access—what privilege levels or data sources are required

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 76.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

active directory python library, windows ad internals, directory services interaction, active directory manipulation, ad credential extraction, ntds database access, windows domain controller, active-directory, windows-security, credential-extraction

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