> 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/possible-privilege-escalation-using-delegated-msa-account.md).

# Possible Privilege Escalation using Delegated MSA account

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                                                                                         |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                                                                                       |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                                                                                       |
| Test Period          | 1 Hour                                                                                                                        |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day                                                                                                                         |
| Required Data        | <p>Requires one of the following data sources:<br>Windows Event Collector OR XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)</p> |
| Detection Modules    | Identity Analytics                                                                                                            |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Privilege Escalation (TA0004)                                                                                                 |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Account Manipulation (T1098)                                                                                                  |
| Severity             | Informational                                                                                                                 |

### Description

An attacker might abuse dMSA account to escalate its privileges.

### Attacker's Goals

Attackers may leverage dMSA account migration process to escalate privileges.

### Investigative actions

* Confirm that the user is authorized to create and modify dMSA accounts in the domain.
* Verify the user should have permissions on the OU under which the dMSA account was created.
* Validate that the dMSA account should be created under the OU that appeared in the log (use the GUID).
* Verify that the user superseded an account, with the dMSA account, that should have superseded.
* Check the GUID of the dMSA object to get the account itself (can be viewed also in computer account creation event).
* Check what is the superseded account in the attribute 'msDS-ManagedAccountPrecededByLink' of the dMSA object.
* Investigate the host that initiated the dMSA account migration process for malicious activity.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Possible Privilege Escalation using Delegated MSA account attempt</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                         |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Privilege Escalation (TA0004) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Account Manipulation (T1098)  |
| Severity          | Medium                        |

**Description**

An attacker might abuse dMSA account to escalate its privileges.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may leverage dMSA account migration process to escalate privileges.

**Investigative actions**

* Confirm that the user is authorized to create and modify dMSA accounts in the domain.
* Verify the user should have permissions on the OU under which the dMSA account was created.
* Validate that the dMSA account should be created under the OU that appeared in the log (use the GUID).
* Verify that the user superseded an account, with the dMSA account, that should have superseded.
* Check the GUID of the dMSA object to get the account itself (can be viewed also in computer account creation event).
* Check what is the superseded account in the attribute 'msDS-ManagedAccountPrecededByLink' of the dMSA object.
* Investigate the host that initiated the dMSA account migration process for malicious activity.

</details>


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