ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1098 | Account Manipulation | Persistence |
T1098.001 | Additional Cloud Credentials | Privilege Escalation |
Detection: Azure AD Service Principal New Client Credentials
Description
The following analytic detects the addition of new credentials to Service Principals and Applications in Azure AD. It leverages Azure AD AuditLogs, specifically monitoring the "Update application*Certificates and secrets management" operation. This activity is significant as it may indicate an adversary attempting to maintain persistent access or escalate privileges within the Azure environment. If confirmed malicious, attackers could use these new credentials to log in as the service principal, potentially compromising sensitive accounts and resources, leading to unauthorized access and control over the Azure environment.
Search
1`azure_monitor_aad` category=AuditLogs operationName="Update application*Certificates and secrets management "
2| rename properties.* as *
3| rename targetResources{}.* as *
4| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(displayName) as displayName by user, modifiedProperties{}.newValue, src_ip
5| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
6| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
7| `azure_ad_service_principal_new_client_credentials_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source | Supported App |
---|---|---|---|---|
Azure Active Directory | Azure | 'azure:monitor:aad' |
'Azure AD' |
N/A |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
azure_monitor_aad | sourcetype=azure:monitor:aad |
azure_ad_service_principal_new_client_credentials_filter | search * |
azure_ad_service_principal_new_client_credentials_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. This analytic was written to be used with the azure:monitor:aad sourcetype leveraging the Signin log category.
Known False Positives
Service Principal client credential modifications may be part of legitimate administrative operations. Filter as needed.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message | Risk Score | Impact | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|
New credentials added for Service Principal by $user$ | 35 | 70 | 50 |
References
-
https://microsoft.github.io/Azure-Threat-Research-Matrix/Persistence/AZT501/AZT501-2/
-
https://hausec.com/2021/10/26/attacking-azure-azure-ad-part-ii/
-
https://www.inversecos.com/2021/10/how-to-backdoor-azure-applications-and.html
-
https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/apt29-continues-targeting-microsoft
-
https://microsoft.github.io/Azure-Threat-Research-Matrix/PrivilegeEscalation/AZT405/AZT405-3/
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