> 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/unusual-access-to-the-windows-internal-database-on-an-adfs-server.md).

# Unusual access to the Windows Internal Database on an ADFS server

### 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 with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Credential Access (TA0006)                   |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Credentials from Password Stores (T1555)     |
| Severity             | Informational                                |

### Description

The Windows Internal Database (WID) was queried in an unusual way on an ADFS server.

### Attacker's Goals

* Attackers can attempt to extract and decrypt the ADFS certificate that is used to sign SAML tokens, and fabricate a new SAML token.

### Investigative actions

* See whether this was a legitimate action.
* Follow the causality chain/user/host activities.
* Monitor suspicious LDAP queries to the ADFS container in Active Directory.
* Check the possibility of a compromised ADFS server.
* Check for unusual Azure AD authentications.
* Check for unusual logins.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Suspicious access to the Windows Internal Database on an ADFS server</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                    |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Credential Access (TA0006)               |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Credentials from Password Stores (T1555) |
| Severity          | Low                                      |

**Description**

The Windows Internal Database (WID) was queried in an unusual way on an ADFS server.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Attackers can attempt to extract and decrypt the ADFS certificate that is used to sign SAML tokens, and fabricate a new SAML token.

**Investigative actions**

* See whether this was a legitimate action.
* Follow the causality chain/user/host activities.
* Monitor suspicious LDAP queries to the ADFS container in Active Directory.
* Check the possibility of a compromised ADFS server.
* Check for unusual Azure AD authentications.
* Check for unusual logins.

</details>


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