Threat Essentials - Multiple admin membership removals from newly created admin

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Id	199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df
Rulename	Threat Essentials - Multiple admin membership removals from newly created admin.
Description	This query detects when newly created Global admin removes multiple existing global admins which can be an attempt by adversaries to lock down organization and retain sole access. Investigate reasoning and intention of multiple membership removal by new Global admins and take necessary actions accordingly.
Severity	Medium
Tactics	Impact
Techniques	T1531
Required data connectors	AzureActiveDirectory
Kind	Scheduled
Query frequency	1h
Query period	7d
Trigger threshold	0
Trigger operator	gt
Source Uri	https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/SecurityThreatEssentialSolution/Analytic Rules/Threat_Essentials_MultipleAdmin_membership_removals_from_NewAdmin.yaml
Version	1.0.1
Arm template	199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df.json

KQL

let lookback = 7d; 
let timeframe = 1h; 
let GlobalAdminsRemoved = AuditLogs 
| where TimeGenerated > ago(timeframe) 
| where Category =~ "RoleManagement" 
| where AADOperationType in~ ("Unassign", "RemoveEligibleRole") 
| where ActivityDisplayName has_any ("Remove member from role", "Remove eligible member from role") 
| mv-expand TargetResources 
| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
| extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) 
| where displayName_ =~ "Role.DisplayName" 
| extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))) 
| where RoleName =~ "Global Administrator" // Add other Privileged role if applicable 
| extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) 
| extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) 
| where Initiator != "MS-PIM"  // Filtering PIM events 
| extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) 
| summarize RemovedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated), TargetAdmins = make_set(Target) by OperationName,  RoleName, Initiator, Result; 
let GlobalAdminsAdded = AuditLogs 
| where TimeGenerated > ago(lookback) 
| where Category =~ "RoleManagement" 
| where AADOperationType in~ ("Assign", "AssignEligibleRole") 
| where ActivityDisplayName has_any ("Add eligible member to role", "Add member to role") and Result =~ "success" 
| mv-expand TargetResources 
| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
| extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) 
| where displayName_ =~ "Role.DisplayName" 
| extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))) 
| where RoleName =~ "Global Administrator" // Add other Privileged role if applicable 
| extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) 
| extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) 
| where Initiator != "MS-PIM"  // Filtering PIM events 
| extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) 
| summarize AddedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated) by OperationName,  RoleName, Target, Initiator, Result; 
GlobalAdminsAdded 
| join kind= inner GlobalAdminsRemoved on $left.Target == $right.Initiator 
| where AddedGlobalAdminTime < RemovedGlobalAdminTime 
| extend NoofAdminsRemoved = array_length(TargetAdmins) 
| where NoofAdminsRemoved > 1
| project AddedGlobalAdminTime, Initiator, Target, RemovedGlobalAdminTime, TargetAdmins, NoofAdminsRemoved
| extend Name=split(Target, "@")[0], UPNSuffix=split(Target, "@")[1]

YAML

relevantTechniques:
- T1531
name: Threat Essentials - Multiple admin membership removals from newly created admin.
requiredDataConnectors:
- dataTypes:
  - AuditLogs
  connectorId: AzureActiveDirectory
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: Name
    columnName: Name
  - identifier: UPNSuffix
    columnName: UPNSuffix
  entityType: Account
triggerThreshold: 0
id: 199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df
tactics:
- Impact
version: 1.0.1
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/SecurityThreatEssentialSolution/Analytic Rules/Threat_Essentials_MultipleAdmin_membership_removals_from_NewAdmin.yaml
queryPeriod: 7d
kind: Scheduled
tags:
- DEV-0537
queryFrequency: 1h
severity: Medium
status: Available
description: |
  'This query detects when newly created Global admin removes multiple existing global admins which can be an attempt by adversaries to lock down organization and retain sole access. 
   Investigate reasoning and intention of multiple membership removal by new Global admins and take necessary actions accordingly.'  
query: |
  let lookback = 7d; 
  let timeframe = 1h; 
  let GlobalAdminsRemoved = AuditLogs 
  | where TimeGenerated > ago(timeframe) 
  | where Category =~ "RoleManagement" 
  | where AADOperationType in~ ("Unassign", "RemoveEligibleRole") 
  | where ActivityDisplayName has_any ("Remove member from role", "Remove eligible member from role") 
  | mv-expand TargetResources 
  | mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
  | extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) 
  | where displayName_ =~ "Role.DisplayName" 
  | extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))) 
  | where RoleName =~ "Global Administrator" // Add other Privileged role if applicable 
  | extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) 
  | extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) 
  | where Initiator != "MS-PIM"  // Filtering PIM events 
  | extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) 
  | summarize RemovedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated), TargetAdmins = make_set(Target) by OperationName,  RoleName, Initiator, Result; 
  let GlobalAdminsAdded = AuditLogs 
  | where TimeGenerated > ago(lookback) 
  | where Category =~ "RoleManagement" 
  | where AADOperationType in~ ("Assign", "AssignEligibleRole") 
  | where ActivityDisplayName has_any ("Add eligible member to role", "Add member to role") and Result =~ "success" 
  | mv-expand TargetResources 
  | mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
  | extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) 
  | where displayName_ =~ "Role.DisplayName" 
  | extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))) 
  | where RoleName =~ "Global Administrator" // Add other Privileged role if applicable 
  | extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) 
  | extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) 
  | where Initiator != "MS-PIM"  // Filtering PIM events 
  | extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) 
  | summarize AddedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated) by OperationName,  RoleName, Target, Initiator, Result; 
  GlobalAdminsAdded 
  | join kind= inner GlobalAdminsRemoved on $left.Target == $right.Initiator 
  | where AddedGlobalAdminTime < RemovedGlobalAdminTime 
  | extend NoofAdminsRemoved = array_length(TargetAdmins) 
  | where NoofAdminsRemoved > 1
  | project AddedGlobalAdminTime, Initiator, Target, RemovedGlobalAdminTime, TargetAdmins, NoofAdminsRemoved
  | extend Name=split(Target, "@")[0], UPNSuffix=split(Target, "@")[1]  
triggerOperator: gt

ARM

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "workspace": {
      "type": "String"
    }
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "apiVersion": "2024-01-01-preview",
      "id": "[concat(resourceId('Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers', parameters('workspace'), 'Microsoft.SecurityInsights'),'/alertRules/199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "199978c5-cd6d-4194-b505-8ef5800739df",
        "customDetails": null,
        "description": "'This query detects when newly created Global admin removes multiple existing global admins which can be an attempt by adversaries to lock down organization and retain sole access. \n Investigate reasoning and intention of multiple membership removal by new Global admins and take necessary actions accordingly.'\n",
        "displayName": "Threat Essentials - Multiple admin membership removals from newly created admin.",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "Name",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "UPNSuffix",
                "identifier": "UPNSuffix"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/SecurityThreatEssentialSolution/Analytic Rules/Threat_Essentials_MultipleAdmin_membership_removals_from_NewAdmin.yaml",
        "query": "let lookback = 7d; \nlet timeframe = 1h; \nlet GlobalAdminsRemoved = AuditLogs \n| where TimeGenerated > ago(timeframe) \n| where Category =~ \"RoleManagement\" \n| where AADOperationType in~ (\"Unassign\", \"RemoveEligibleRole\") \n| where ActivityDisplayName has_any (\"Remove member from role\", \"Remove eligible member from role\") \n| mv-expand TargetResources \n| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties \n| extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) \n| where displayName_ =~ \"Role.DisplayName\" \n| extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))) \n| where RoleName =~ \"Global Administrator\" // Add other Privileged role if applicable \n| extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) \n| extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) \n| where Initiator != \"MS-PIM\"  // Filtering PIM events \n| extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) \n| summarize RemovedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated), TargetAdmins = make_set(Target) by OperationName,  RoleName, Initiator, Result; \nlet GlobalAdminsAdded = AuditLogs \n| where TimeGenerated > ago(lookback) \n| where Category =~ \"RoleManagement\" \n| where AADOperationType in~ (\"Assign\", \"AssignEligibleRole\") \n| where ActivityDisplayName has_any (\"Add eligible member to role\", \"Add member to role\") and Result =~ \"success\" \n| mv-expand TargetResources \n| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties \n| extend displayName_ = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName) \n| where displayName_ =~ \"Role.DisplayName\" \n| extend RoleName = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))) \n| where RoleName =~ \"Global Administrator\" // Add other Privileged role if applicable \n| extend InitiatingApp = tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.app)).displayName) \n| extend Initiator = iif(isnotempty(InitiatingApp), InitiatingApp, tostring(parse_json(tostring(InitiatedBy.user)).userPrincipalName)) \n| where Initiator != \"MS-PIM\"  // Filtering PIM events \n| extend Target = tostring(TargetResources.userPrincipalName) \n| summarize AddedGlobalAdminTime = max(TimeGenerated) by OperationName,  RoleName, Target, Initiator, Result; \nGlobalAdminsAdded \n| join kind= inner GlobalAdminsRemoved on $left.Target == $right.Initiator \n| where AddedGlobalAdminTime < RemovedGlobalAdminTime \n| extend NoofAdminsRemoved = array_length(TargetAdmins) \n| where NoofAdminsRemoved > 1\n| project AddedGlobalAdminTime, Initiator, Target, RemovedGlobalAdminTime, TargetAdmins, NoofAdminsRemoved\n| extend Name=split(Target, \"@\")[0], UPNSuffix=split(Target, \"@\")[1]\n",
        "queryFrequency": "PT1H",
        "queryPeriod": "P7D",
        "severity": "Medium",
        "status": "Available",
        "subTechniques": [],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "Impact"
        ],
        "tags": [
          "DEV-0537"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1531"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.1",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}