LoFP LoFP / resetting the dsrm password for legitamate reasons, i.e. forgot the password. disaster recovery. deploying ad backdoor deliberately.

Techniques

Sample rules

Windows AD DSRM Password Reset

Description

The following analytic detects attempts to reset the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) administrator password on a Domain Controller. It leverages event code 4794 from the Windows Security Event Log, specifically looking for events where the DSRM password reset is attempted. This activity is significant because the DSRM account can be used similarly to a local administrator account, providing potential persistence for an attacker. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to maintain administrative access to the Domain Controller, posing a severe risk to the domain’s security.

Detection logic


| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` min(_time) as _time from datamodel=Change where All_Changes.result_id="4794" AND All_Changes.result="set the Directory Services Restore Mode administrator password" by All_Changes.action, All_Changes.dest, All_Changes.src, All_Changes.user 
| `drop_dm_object_name(All_Changes)` 
| `windows_ad_dsrm_password_reset_filter`