Get ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy with Powershell Script Block

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Description

The following analytic detects the execution of the Get-ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy PowerShell cmdlet, which is used to obtain the password policy in a Windows domain. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode=4104) to identify this activity. Monitoring this behavior is significant as it may indicate an attempt to enumerate domain policies, a common tactic used by adversaries for situational awareness and Active Directory discovery. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to understand password policies, aiding in further attacks such as password guessing or policy exploitation.

• Type: TTP

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

• Last Updated: 2024-05-09
• Author: Teoderick Contreras, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
• ID: 737e1eb0-065a-11ec-921a-acde48001122

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID	Technique	Tactic
T1201	Password Policy Discovery	Discovery

Kill Chain Phase

• Exploitation

NIST

• DE.CM

CIS20

• CIS 10

CVE

Search

`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText="*Get-ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy*" 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Opcode Computer UserID EventCode ScriptBlockText 
| rename Computer as dest 
| rename UserID as user 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `get_aduserresultantpasswordpolicy_with_powershell_script_block_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

• powershell
• security_content_ctime

get_aduserresultantpasswordpolicy_with_powershell_script_block_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
• ScriptBlockText
• Opcode
• Computer
• UserID
• EventCode

How To Implement

The following Hunting analytic requires PowerShell operational logs to be imported. Modify the powershell macro as needed to match the sourcetype or add index. This analytic is specific to 4104, or PowerShell Script Block Logging.

Known False Positives

Administrators or power users may use this command for troubleshooting.

Associated Analytic Story

• Active Directory Discovery
• CISA AA23-347A

RBA

Risk Score	Impact	Confidence	Message
9.0	30	30	powershell process having commandline to query domain user password policy detected on host - $dest$.

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

• https://github.com/S1ckB0y1337/Active-Directory-Exploitation-Cheat-Sheet
• https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1201/
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/activedirectory/get-aduserresultantpasswordpolicy?view=windowsserver2019-ps

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: 4