ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1621 | Multi-Factor Authentication Request Generation | Credential Access |
Detection: Azure AD Multiple Denied MFA Requests For User
Description
The following analytic detects an unusually high number of denied Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requests for a single user within a 10-minute window, specifically when more than nine MFA prompts are declined. It leverages Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) sign-in logs, focusing on "Sign-in activity" events with error code 500121 and additional details indicating "MFA denied; user declined the authentication." This behavior is significant as it may indicate a targeted attack or account compromise attempt, with the user actively declining unauthorized access. If confirmed malicious, it could lead to data exfiltration, lateral movement, or further malicious activities.
Search
1`azure_monitor_aad` category=SignInLogs operationName="Sign-in activity"
2| rename properties.* as *
3| search status.errorCode=500121 status.additionalDetails="MFA denied; user declined the authentication"
4| bucket span=10m _time
5| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by user, status.additionalDetails, appDisplayName, user_agent
6| where count > 9
7| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
8| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
9| `azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Azure Active Directory Sign-in activity | Azure | 'azure:monitor:aad' |
'Azure AD' |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
azure_monitor_aad | sourcetype=azure:monitor:aad |
azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_filter | search * |
azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_filter
is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.
Annotations
Default Configuration
This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:
Setting | Value |
---|---|
Disabled | true |
Cron Schedule | 0 * * * * |
Earliest Time | -70m@m |
Latest Time | -10m@m |
Schedule Window | auto |
Creates Notable | Yes |
Rule Title | %name% |
Rule Description | %description% |
Notable Event Fields | user, dest |
Creates Risk Event | True |
Implementation
You must install the latest version of Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Cloud Services from Splunkbase (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/3110/#/details). You must be ingesting Azure Active Directory events into your Splunk environment through an EventHub. This analytic was written to be used with the azure:monitor:aad sourcetype leveraging the Signin log category.
Known False Positives
Multiple denifed MFA requests in a short period of span may also be a sign of authentication errors. Investigate and filter as needed.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message | Risk Score | Impact | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|
User $user$ denied more than 9 MFA requests in a timespan of 10 minutes. | 54 | 60 | 90 |
References
Detection Testing
Test Type | Status | Dataset | Source | Sourcetype |
---|---|---|---|---|
Validation | ✅ Passing | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Unit | ✅ Passing | Dataset | Azure AD |
azure:monitor:aad |
Integration | ✅ Passing | Dataset | Azure AD |
azure:monitor:aad |
Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py
tool or the UI.
Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range
Source: GitHub | Version: 4