Unusual user account enablement

Synopsis

Field	Value
Activation Period	14 Days
Training Period	30 Days
Test Period	N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period	1 Day
Required Data	Requires one of the following data sources: Windows Event Collector OR XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)
Detection Modules	Identity Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation (T1098)
Severity	Informational

Description

A user enabled an account. This user does not usually enable user accounts.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may enable a user account to gain persistence.

Investigative actions

• Investigate the associated enabling event.
• Check if the user is authorized to enable accounts.
• Confirm that the account enablement was expected.
• If the account enablement seems suspicious, address it accordingly by disabling the account again, forcing a password change, or monitoring its activity.

Variations

Unusual sensitive user account enablement

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation (T1098)
Severity	Low

Description

A user enabled a sensitive account. This user does not usually enable user accounts.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may enable a user account to gain persistence.

Investigative actions

• Investigate the associated enabling event.
• Check if the user is authorized to enable accounts.
• Confirm that the account enablement was expected.
• If the account enablement seems suspicious, address it accordingly by disabling the account again, forcing a password change, or monitoring its activity.