Suspicious VM Instance Creation Activity Detected | Microsoft Sentinel Analytic Rules

Back


Id	1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83
Rulename	Suspicious VM Instance Creation Activity Detected
Description	This detection identifies high-severity alerts across various Microsoft security products, including Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Entra ID, and correlates them with instances of Google Cloud VM creation. It focuses on instances where VMs were created within a short timeframe of high-severity alerts, potentially indicating suspicious activity.
Severity	Medium
Tactics	InitialAccess Execution Discovery
Techniques	T1078 T1106 T1526
Required data connectors	AzureActiveDirectoryIdentityProtection BehaviorAnalytics GCPAuditLogsDefinition MicrosoftCloudAppSecurity MicrosoftDefenderAdvancedThreatProtection MicrosoftThreatProtection
Kind	Scheduled
Query frequency	1d
Query period	1d
Trigger threshold	0
Trigger operator	gt
Source Uri	https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Detections/MultipleDataSources/SuspiciousVMInstanceCreationActivity.yaml
Version	1.0.4
Arm template	1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83.json

KQL

// Filter alerts from specific Microsoft security products with medium and high severity
SecurityAlert 
| where ProductName in ("Microsoft 365 Defender", "Azure Active Directory", "Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection", "Microsoft Cloud App Security", "Azure Active Directory Identity Protection", "Microsoft Defender ATP")
| where AlertSeverity has_any ("Medium", "High")
// Parse JSON entities and extend AlertTimeGenerated
| extend Entities = parse_json(Entities), AlertTimeGenerated=TimeGenerated
// Extract and process IP entities
| mv-apply Entity = Entities on 
    ( 
    where Entity.Type == 'ip' 
    | extend EntityIp = tostring(Entity.Address) 
    ) 
// Extract and process account entities
| mv-apply Entity = Entities on 
    ( 
    where Entity.Type == 'account' 
    | extend AccountObjectId = tostring(Entity.AadUserId)
    )
// Filter out records with empty EntityIp
| where isnotempty(EntityIp)
// Summarize data and create sets of entities and system alert IDs
| summarize Entitys=make_set(Entity), SystemAlertIds=make_set(SystemAlertId)
    by 
    AlertName,
    ProductName,
    AlertSeverity,
    EntityIp,
    Tactics,
    Techniques,
    ProviderName,
    AlertTime= bin(AlertTimeGenerated, 1d),
    AccountObjectId
// Join with GCPAuditLogs for VM instance creation
| join kind=inner (
    GCPAuditLogs
    | where ServiceName == "compute.googleapis.com" and MethodName endswith "instances.insert"
    | extend
        GCPUserUPN= tostring(parse_json(AuthenticationInfo).principalEmail),
        GCPUserIp = tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerIp),
        GCPUserUA= tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerSuppliedUserAgent),
        VMStatus =  tostring(parse_json(Response).status),
        VMOperation=tostring(parse_json(Response).operationType),
        VMName= tostring(parse_json(Request).name),
        VMType = tostring(split(parse_json(Request).machineType, "/")[-1])
    | where GCPUserUPN !has "gserviceaccount.com"
    | where VMOperation == "insert" and isnotempty(GCPUserIp) and GCPUserIp != "private"
    | project
        GCPOperationTime=TimeGenerated,
        VMName,
        VMStatus,
        MethodName,
        GCPUserUPN,
        ProjectId,
        GCPUserIp,
        GCPUserUA,
        VMOperation,
        VMType
    )
    on $left.EntityIp == $right.GCPUserIp 
// Join with IdentityInfo to enrich user identity details
| join kind=inner (IdentityInfo 
    | distinct AccountObjectId, AccountUPN, JobTitle
    )
    on AccountObjectId 
// Calculate the time difference between the alert and VM creation for further analysis
| extend TimeDiff= datetime_diff('day', AlertTime, GCPOperationTime),Name = split(GCPUserUPN, "@")[0], UPNSuffix = split(GCPUserUPN, "@")[1]

YAML

triggerThreshold: 0
version: 1.0.4
kind: Scheduled
description: |
  'This detection identifies high-severity alerts across various Microsoft security products, including Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Entra ID, and correlates them with instances of Google Cloud VM creation. It focuses on instances where VMs were created within a short timeframe of high-severity alerts, potentially indicating suspicious activity.'
queryFrequency: 1d
triggerOperator: gt
relevantTechniques:
- T1078
- T1106
- T1526
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: Address
    columnName: GCPUserIp
  entityType: IP
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: GCPUserUPN
  - identifier: Name
    columnName: Name
  - identifier: UPNSuffix
    columnName: UPNSuffix
  entityType: Account
id: 1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83
query: |
  // Filter alerts from specific Microsoft security products with medium and high severity
  SecurityAlert 
  | where ProductName in ("Microsoft 365 Defender", "Azure Active Directory", "Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection", "Microsoft Cloud App Security", "Azure Active Directory Identity Protection", "Microsoft Defender ATP")
  | where AlertSeverity has_any ("Medium", "High")
  // Parse JSON entities and extend AlertTimeGenerated
  | extend Entities = parse_json(Entities), AlertTimeGenerated=TimeGenerated
  // Extract and process IP entities
  | mv-apply Entity = Entities on 
      ( 
      where Entity.Type == 'ip' 
      | extend EntityIp = tostring(Entity.Address) 
      ) 
  // Extract and process account entities
  | mv-apply Entity = Entities on 
      ( 
      where Entity.Type == 'account' 
      | extend AccountObjectId = tostring(Entity.AadUserId)
      )
  // Filter out records with empty EntityIp
  | where isnotempty(EntityIp)
  // Summarize data and create sets of entities and system alert IDs
  | summarize Entitys=make_set(Entity), SystemAlertIds=make_set(SystemAlertId)
      by 
      AlertName,
      ProductName,
      AlertSeverity,
      EntityIp,
      Tactics,
      Techniques,
      ProviderName,
      AlertTime= bin(AlertTimeGenerated, 1d),
      AccountObjectId
  // Join with GCPAuditLogs for VM instance creation
  | join kind=inner (
      GCPAuditLogs
      | where ServiceName == "compute.googleapis.com" and MethodName endswith "instances.insert"
      | extend
          GCPUserUPN= tostring(parse_json(AuthenticationInfo).principalEmail),
          GCPUserIp = tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerIp),
          GCPUserUA= tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerSuppliedUserAgent),
          VMStatus =  tostring(parse_json(Response).status),
          VMOperation=tostring(parse_json(Response).operationType),
          VMName= tostring(parse_json(Request).name),
          VMType = tostring(split(parse_json(Request).machineType, "/")[-1])
      | where GCPUserUPN !has "gserviceaccount.com"
      | where VMOperation == "insert" and isnotempty(GCPUserIp) and GCPUserIp != "private"
      | project
          GCPOperationTime=TimeGenerated,
          VMName,
          VMStatus,
          MethodName,
          GCPUserUPN,
          ProjectId,
          GCPUserIp,
          GCPUserUA,
          VMOperation,
          VMType
      )
      on $left.EntityIp == $right.GCPUserIp 
  // Join with IdentityInfo to enrich user identity details
  | join kind=inner (IdentityInfo 
      | distinct AccountObjectId, AccountUPN, JobTitle
      )
      on AccountObjectId 
  // Calculate the time difference between the alert and VM creation for further analysis
  | extend TimeDiff= datetime_diff('day', AlertTime, GCPOperationTime),Name = split(GCPUserUPN, "@")[0], UPNSuffix = split(GCPUserUPN, "@")[1]
alertDetailsOverride:
  alertDisplayNameFormat: IP address {{GCPUserIp}} Assocated with {{AlertName}} found in GCP VM creation event by {{GCPUserUPN}}
  alertDescriptionFormat: This detection correlates '{{ProductName}}' Alert IP addresse Entity found in VM instance creation in GCP {{ProjectId}}. It identifies successful compute instance creation, from suspicious IP addresse. By joining these datasets on network entities and IP addresses, it detects unauthorized Initial access attempts across GCP environments.
  alertSeverityColumnName: AlertSeverity
  alertDynamicProperties:
  - alertProperty: ProviderName
    value: Microsoft Security
  - alertProperty: ProductName
    value: Microsoft Defender
  - alertProperty: ProductComponentName
    value: Microsoft Defender
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Detections/MultipleDataSources/SuspiciousVMInstanceCreationActivity.yaml
requiredDataConnectors:
- dataTypes:
  - GCPAuditLogs
  connectorId: GCPAuditLogsDefinition
- dataTypes:
  - SecurityAlert (IPC)
  connectorId: AzureActiveDirectoryIdentityProtection
- dataTypes:
  - SecurityAlert
  connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
- dataTypes:
  - SecurityAlert (MDATP)
  connectorId: MicrosoftDefenderAdvancedThreatProtection
- dataTypes:
  - SecurityAlert
  connectorId: MicrosoftCloudAppSecurity
- dataTypes:
  - IdentityInfo
  connectorId: BehaviorAnalytics
customDetails:
  AlertUserName: AccountUPN
  GCPVMType: VMType
  AlertIds: SystemAlertIds
  GCPVMName: VMName
  CorrelationWith: GCPAuditLogs
  AlertUserObjectId: AccountObjectId
  AlertProDuctName: ProductName
  AlertIp: EntityIp
  GCPProjectId: ProjectId
  AlertName: AlertName
  GCPUserAgent: GCPUserUA
tactics:
- InitialAccess
- Execution
- Discovery
queryPeriod: 1d
severity: Medium
name: Suspicious VM Instance Creation Activity Detected

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/1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertDetailsOverride": {
          "alertDescriptionFormat": "This detection correlates '{{ProductName}}' Alert IP addresse Entity found in VM instance creation in GCP {{ProjectId}}. It identifies successful compute instance creation, from suspicious IP addresse. By joining these datasets on network entities and IP addresses, it detects unauthorized Initial access attempts across GCP environments.",
          "alertDisplayNameFormat": "IP address {{GCPUserIp}} Assocated with {{AlertName}} found in GCP VM creation event by {{GCPUserUPN}}",
          "alertDynamicProperties": [
            {
              "alertProperty": "ProviderName",
              "value": "Microsoft Security"
            },
            {
              "alertProperty": "ProductName",
              "value": "Microsoft Defender"
            },
            {
              "alertProperty": "ProductComponentName",
              "value": "Microsoft Defender"
            }
          ],
          "alertSeverityColumnName": "AlertSeverity"
        },
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "1cc0ba27-c5ca-411a-a779-fbc89e26be83",
        "customDetails": {
          "AlertIds": "SystemAlertIds",
          "AlertIp": "EntityIp",
          "AlertName": "AlertName",
          "AlertProDuctName": "ProductName",
          "AlertUserName": "AccountUPN",
          "AlertUserObjectId": "AccountObjectId",
          "CorrelationWith": "GCPAuditLogs",
          "GCPProjectId": "ProjectId",
          "GCPUserAgent": "GCPUserUA",
          "GCPVMName": "VMName",
          "GCPVMType": "VMType"
        },
        "description": "'This detection identifies high-severity alerts across various Microsoft security products, including Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Entra ID, and correlates them with instances of Google Cloud VM creation. It focuses on instances where VMs were created within a short timeframe of high-severity alerts, potentially indicating suspicious activity.'\n",
        "displayName": "Suspicious VM Instance Creation Activity Detected",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "IP",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "GCPUserIp",
                "identifier": "Address"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "GCPUserUPN",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "Name",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "UPNSuffix",
                "identifier": "UPNSuffix"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Detections/MultipleDataSources/SuspiciousVMInstanceCreationActivity.yaml",
        "query": "// Filter alerts from specific Microsoft security products with medium and high severity\nSecurityAlert \n| where ProductName in (\"Microsoft 365 Defender\", \"Azure Active Directory\", \"Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection\", \"Microsoft Cloud App Security\", \"Azure Active Directory Identity Protection\", \"Microsoft Defender ATP\")\n| where AlertSeverity has_any (\"Medium\", \"High\")\n// Parse JSON entities and extend AlertTimeGenerated\n| extend Entities = parse_json(Entities), AlertTimeGenerated=TimeGenerated\n// Extract and process IP entities\n| mv-apply Entity = Entities on \n    ( \n    where Entity.Type == 'ip' \n    | extend EntityIp = tostring(Entity.Address) \n    ) \n// Extract and process account entities\n| mv-apply Entity = Entities on \n    ( \n    where Entity.Type == 'account' \n    | extend AccountObjectId = tostring(Entity.AadUserId)\n    )\n// Filter out records with empty EntityIp\n| where isnotempty(EntityIp)\n// Summarize data and create sets of entities and system alert IDs\n| summarize Entitys=make_set(Entity), SystemAlertIds=make_set(SystemAlertId)\n    by \n    AlertName,\n    ProductName,\n    AlertSeverity,\n    EntityIp,\n    Tactics,\n    Techniques,\n    ProviderName,\n    AlertTime= bin(AlertTimeGenerated, 1d),\n    AccountObjectId\n// Join with GCPAuditLogs for VM instance creation\n| join kind=inner (\n    GCPAuditLogs\n    | where ServiceName == \"compute.googleapis.com\" and MethodName endswith \"instances.insert\"\n    | extend\n        GCPUserUPN= tostring(parse_json(AuthenticationInfo).principalEmail),\n        GCPUserIp = tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerIp),\n        GCPUserUA= tostring(parse_json(RequestMetadata).callerSuppliedUserAgent),\n        VMStatus =  tostring(parse_json(Response).status),\n        VMOperation=tostring(parse_json(Response).operationType),\n        VMName= tostring(parse_json(Request).name),\n        VMType = tostring(split(parse_json(Request).machineType, \"/\")[-1])\n    | where GCPUserUPN !has \"gserviceaccount.com\"\n    | where VMOperation == \"insert\" and isnotempty(GCPUserIp) and GCPUserIp != \"private\"\n    | project\n        GCPOperationTime=TimeGenerated,\n        VMName,\n        VMStatus,\n        MethodName,\n        GCPUserUPN,\n        ProjectId,\n        GCPUserIp,\n        GCPUserUA,\n        VMOperation,\n        VMType\n    )\n    on $left.EntityIp == $right.GCPUserIp \n// Join with IdentityInfo to enrich user identity details\n| join kind=inner (IdentityInfo \n    | distinct AccountObjectId, AccountUPN, JobTitle\n    )\n    on AccountObjectId \n// Calculate the time difference between the alert and VM creation for further analysis\n| extend TimeDiff= datetime_diff('day', AlertTime, GCPOperationTime),Name = split(GCPUserUPN, \"@\")[0], UPNSuffix = split(GCPUserUPN, \"@\")[1]\n",
        "queryFrequency": "P1D",
        "queryPeriod": "P1D",
        "severity": "Medium",
        "subTechniques": [],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "Discovery",
          "Execution",
          "InitialAccess"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1078",
          "T1106",
          "T1526"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.4",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}