Abnormal User Login to Domain Controller

Synopsis

Field	Value
Activation Period	14 Days
Training Period	30 Days
Test Period	N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period	1 Day
Required Data	XDR Agent
Detection Modules	Identity Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic	Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
ATT&CK Technique	Valid Accounts (T1078), Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
Severity	Informational

Description

A user account has successfully logged on to a Domain Controller (DC), generating a Windows Event Log. This may be a sign of DC and Active Directory (AD) compromise.

Attacker's Goals

A malicious user may attempt to access a domain controller to access and control Active Directory.

Investigative actions

• Ensure that the user is not a Domain Admin account. By default, Administrator groups have permission to access the domain controller.
• Check if the user is a service account that accesses a domain controller as part of its normal behavior.
• Verify that the user is not authenticating to group policy.

Variations

Rare RDP User Login to Domain Controller by an Abnormal Department

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
ATT&CK Technique	Valid Accounts (T1078), Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
Severity	Medium

Description

A user account has successfully interactively logged on to a Domain Controller (DC), generating a Windows Event Log. This may be a sign of DC and Active Directory (AD) compromise.

Attacker's Goals

A malicious user may attempt to access a domain controller to access and control Active Directory.

Investigative actions

• Ensure that the user is not a Domain Admin account. By default, Administrator groups have permission to access the domain controller.
• Check if the user is a service account that accesses a domain controller as part of its normal behavior.
• Verify that the user is not authenticating to group policy.

Abnormal RDP User Login to Domain Controller

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
ATT&CK Technique	Valid Accounts (T1078), Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
Severity	Low

Description

A user account has successfully interactively logged on to a Domain Controller (DC), generating a Windows Event Log. This may be a sign of DC and Active Directory (AD) compromise.

Attacker's Goals

A malicious user may attempt to access a domain controller to access and control Active Directory.

Investigative actions

• Ensure that the user is not a Domain Admin account. By default, Administrator groups have permission to access the domain controller.
• Check if the user is a service account that accesses a domain controller as part of its normal behavior.
• Verify that the user is not authenticating to group policy.

RDP User Login to Domain Controller

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
ATT&CK Technique	Valid Accounts (T1078), Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
Severity	Informational

Description

A user account has successfully logged on to a Domain Controller (DC), generating a Windows Event Log. This may be a sign of DC and Active Directory (AD) compromise.

Attacker's Goals

A malicious user may attempt to access a domain controller to access and control Active Directory.

Investigative actions

• Ensure that the user is not a Domain Admin account. By default, Administrator groups have permission to access the domain controller.
• Check if the user is a service account that accesses a domain controller as part of its normal behavior.
• Verify that the user is not authenticating to group policy.

Abnormal User Login to Domain Controller by an Abnormal Department

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Lateral Movement (TA0008), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
ATT&CK Technique	Valid Accounts (T1078), Use Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
Severity	Informational

Description

A user account has successfully logged on to a Domain Controller (DC), generating a Windows Event Log. This may be a sign of DC and Active Directory (AD) compromise.

Attacker's Goals

A malicious user may attempt to access a domain controller to access and control Active Directory.

Investigative actions

• Ensure that the user is not a Domain Admin account. By default, Administrator groups have permission to access the domain controller.
• Check if the user is a service account that accesses a domain controller as part of its normal behavior.
• Verify that the user is not authenticating to group policy.