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Description

The following analytic identifies the creation and quick deletion of a Domain Controller (DC) object within 30 seconds in an Active Directory environment, indicative of a potential DCShadow attack. This detection leverages Windows Security Event Codes 5137 and 5141, analyzing the duration between these events. This activity is significant as DCShadow allows attackers with privileged access to register a rogue DC, enabling unauthorized changes to AD objects, including credentials. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized AD modifications, compromising the integrity and security of the entire domain.

  • Type: TTP

  • Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud

  • Last Updated: 2024-05-21
  • Author: Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
  • ID: 193769d3-1e33-43a9-970e-ad4a88256cdb

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1207 Rogue Domain Controller Defense Evasion
Kill Chain Phase
  • Exploitation
NIST
  • DE.CM
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


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 `wineventlog_security` EventCode=5137 OR EventCode=5141 ObjectDN="*CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration*" 
| transaction ObjectDN startswith=(EventCode=5137) endswith=(EventCode=5141) 
| eval short_lived=case((duration<30),"TRUE") 
| search short_lived = TRUE 
| stats values(ObjectDN) values(signature) values(EventCode) by _time, Computer, SubjectUserName 
| `windows_ad_short_lived_server_object_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: windows_ad_short_lived_server_object_filter is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Required fields

List of fields required to use this analytic.

  • _time
  • EventCode
  • ObjectDN
  • signature
  • SubjectUserName
  • Computer

How To Implement

To successfully implement this search, you ned to be ingesting Event codes 5137 and 5141. The Advanced Security Audit policy setting Audit Directory Services Changes within DS Access needs to be enabled. For these event codes to be generated, specific SACLs are required.

Known False Positives

Creating and deleting a server object within 30 seconds or less is unusual but not impossible in a production environment. Filter as needed.

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
64.0 80 80 Potential DCShadow Attack Detected on $Computer$

:information_source: The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

Reference

Test Dataset

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 | version: 2