Convert Octet String into Readable String

Below shows you how to view an users GUID in Windows Server 2003.

In Server 2003 all GUID attributes in Active Directory were displayed in ADSI edit as Octet values for each Active Directory object.



In Server 2008 ADSIedit GUID attributes are now displayed in a readable format.



If you only have Server 2003 how can you read the GUID on Active Directory objects? Use the following script, here we are finding the GUID of my user account on my KBOMB domain.

Set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://CN=Clint Boessen,OU=Internal,OU=Users,OU=KBOMB,DC=kbomb,DC=local")

arrbytGuid = objUser.objectGuid
strHexGuid = OctetToHexStr(arrbytGuid)
strGuid = HexGuidToGuidStr(strHexGuid)

Wscript.Echo "Guid in display format: " & strGuid

Function OctetToHexStr(arrbytOctet)
' Function to convert OctetString (byte array) to Hex string.

Dim k
OctetToHexStr = ""
For k = 1 To Lenb(arrbytOctet)
OctetToHexStr = OctetToHexStr _
& Right("0" & Hex(Ascb(Midb(arrbytOctet, k, 1))), 2)
Next
End Function

Function HexGuidToGuidStr(strGuid)
' Function to convert Hex Guid to display form.
Dim k

HexGuidToGuidStr = ""
For k = 1 To 4
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & Mid(strGuid, 9 - 2*k, 2)
Next
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & "-"
For k = 1 To 2
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & Mid(strGuid, 13 - 2*k, 2)
Next
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & "-"
For k = 1 To 2
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & Mid(strGuid, 17 - 2*k, 2)
Next
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & "-" & Mid(strGuid, 17, 4)
HexGuidToGuidStr = HexGuidToGuidStr & "-" & Mid(strGuid, 21)
End Function

When I run the visual basic script I get my GUID.



I also have code here for converting SID from octect, hex or binary to String values. This script was developed by a guy named Richard who is an MVP in Microsoft MVP Scripting and ADSI.

Option Explicit
Dim objUser

Set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://CN=Clint Boessen,OU=Internal,OU=Users,OU=KBOMB,DC=kbomb,DC=local")
Wscript.Echo ObjSidToStrSid(objUser.objectSid)

Function ObjSidToStrSid(arrSid)
' Function to convert OctetString (byte array) to Decimal string (SDDL) \Sid.
Dim strHex, strDec

strHex = OctetStrToHexStr(arrSid)
strDec = HexStrToDecStr(strHex)
ObjSidToStrSid = strDec
End Function ' ObjSidToStrSid

Function OctetStrToHexStr(arrbytOctet)
' Function to convert OctetString (byte array) to Hex string.
Dim k

OctetStrToHexStr = ""
For k = 1 To Lenb(arrbytOctet)
OctetStrToHexStr = OctetStrToHexStr _
& Right("0" & Hex(Ascb(Midb(arrbytOctet, k, 1))), 2)
Next
End Function ' OctetStrToHexStr

Function HexStrToDecStr(strSid)
' Function to convert Hex string Sid to Decimal string (SDDL) Sid.

' SID anatomy:
' Byte Position
' 0 : SID Structure Revision Level (SRL)
' 1 : Number of Subauthority/Relative Identifier
' 2-7 : Identifier Authority Value (IAV) [48 bits]
' 8-x : Variable number of Subauthority or Relative Identifier (RID) [32 bits]
'
' Example: '
' \Administrator
' Pos : 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
' Value: 01 05 00 00 00 00 00 05 15 00 00 00 06 4E 7D 7F 11 57 56 7A 04 11 C5 20 F4 01 00 00
' str : S- 1 -5 -21 -2138918406 -2052478737 -549785860 -500

Const BYTES_IN_32BITS = 4
Const SRL_BYTE = 0
Const IAV_START_BYTE = 2
Const IAV_END_BYTE = 7
Const RID_START_BYTE = 8
Const MSB = 3 'Most significant byte
Const LSB = 0 'Least significant byte

Dim arrbytSid, lngTemp, base, offset, i

ReDim arrbytSid(Len(strSid)/2 - 1)

' Convert hex string into integer array
For i = 0 To UBound(arrbytSid)
arrbytSid(i) = CInt("&H" & Mid(strSid, 2 * i + 1, 2))
Next

' Add SRL number
HexStrToDecStr = "S-" & arrbytSid(SRL_BYTE)

' Add Identifier Authority Value
lngTemp = 0
For i = IAV_START_BYTE To IAV_END_BYTE
lngTemp = lngTemp * 256 + arrbytSid(i)
Next
HexStrToDecStr = HexStrToDecStr & "-" & CStr(lngTemp)

' Add a variable number of 32-bit subauthority or
' relative identifier (RID) values.
' Bytes are in reverse significant order.
' i.e. HEX 01 02 03 04 => HEX 04 03 02 01
' = (((0 * 256 + 04) * 256 + 03) * 256 + 02) * 256 + 01
' = DEC 67305985
For base = RID_START_BYTE To UBound(arrbytSid) Step BYTES_IN_32BITS
lngTemp = 0
For offset = MSB to LSB Step -1
lngTemp = lngTemp * 256 + arrbytSid(base + offset)
Next
HexStrToDecStr = HexStrToDecStr & "-" & CStr(lngTemp)
Next
End Function ' HexStrToDecStr