Azure virtual machine commands execution

Synopsis

Field	Value
Activation Period	14 Days
Training Period	30 Days
Test Period	N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period	3 Hours
Required Data	Azure Audit Log
Detection Modules	Cloud
ATT&CK Tactic	Execution (TA0002), Lateral Movement (TA0008)
ATT&CK Technique	Cloud Administration Command (T1651), Command and Scripting Interpreter: Cloud API (T1059.009), Remote Services: Cloud Services (T1021.007)
Severity	Informational

Description

An Azure virtual machine executed PowerShell commands with System privileges.

Attacker's Goals

Execute arbitrary code inside a VM without needing SSH/RDP or any open inbound network path.

Investigative actions

• Identify the target VM resource and the subscription / resource group it belongs to.
• Retrieve the script payload sent via Run Command.
• Verify whether the calling identity is normally entitled to perform VM Run Command on this VM.
• Check for related anomalies on the same identity.

Variations

Unusual Azure VM remote command execution

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Execution (TA0002), Lateral Movement (TA0008)
ATT&CK Technique	Cloud Administration Command (T1651), Command and Scripting Interpreter: Cloud API (T1059.009), Remote Services: Cloud Services (T1021.007)
Severity	Low

Description

An Azure virtual machine executed PowerShell commands with System privileges.

Attacker's Goals

Execute arbitrary code inside a VM without needing SSH/RDP or any open inbound network path.

Investigative actions

• Identify the target VM resource and the subscription / resource group it belongs to.
• Retrieve the script payload sent via Run Command.
• Verify whether the calling identity is normally entitled to perform VM Run Command on this VM.
• Check for related anomalies on the same identity.

First Azure VM remote command execution on this VM

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Execution (TA0002), Lateral Movement (TA0008)
ATT&CK Technique	Cloud Administration Command (T1651), Command and Scripting Interpreter: Cloud API (T1059.009), Remote Services: Cloud Services (T1021.007)
Severity	Informational

Description

An Azure virtual machine executed PowerShell commands with System privileges.

Attacker's Goals

Execute arbitrary code inside a VM without needing SSH/RDP or any open inbound network path.

Investigative actions

• Identify the target VM resource and the subscription / resource group it belongs to.
• Retrieve the script payload sent via Run Command.
• Verify whether the calling identity is normally entitled to perform VM Run Command on this VM.
• Check for related anomalies on the same identity.