> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/authentication-attempt-from-a-dormant-account.md).
# Authentication Attempt From a Dormant Account
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 31 Days |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
Palo Alto Networks Firewall traffic Logs OR XDR Agent
|
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A dormant user account tried to authenticate to a service using a TGS after having been unused for a year or more. This may indicate the account is misused by an attacker.
### Attacker's Goals
Use a compromised user account that has not been used in a long time and therefore less likely to be noticed.
### Investigative actions
* See whether the service authentication was successful.
* Confirm that the activity is benign (e.g. the user returned from a long leave of absence).
* Check whether you have issues with your Cloud Identity Engine failing to sync data from Active Directory.
### Variations
Authentication Attempt From a Dormant Account to a sensitive server
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A dormant user account tried to authenticate to a service using a TGS after having been unused for a year or more. This may indicate the account is misused by an attacker on a sensitive server.
**Attacker's Goals**
Use a compromised user account that has not been used in a long time and therefore less likely to be noticed.
**Investigative actions**
* See whether the service authentication was successful.
* Confirm that the activity is benign (e.g. the user returned from a long leave of absence).
* Check whether you have issues with your Cloud Identity Engine failing to sync data from Active Directory.
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