Suspicious linking of existing user to external User

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Id	22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859
Rulename	Suspicious linking of existing user to external User
Description	This query will detect when an attempt is made to update an existing user and link it to an guest or external identity. These activities are unusual and such linking of external identities should be investigated. In some cases you may see internal Entra ID sync accounts (Sync_) do this which may be benign
Severity	Medium
Tactics	PrivilegeEscalation
Techniques	T1078.004
Required data connectors	AzureActiveDirectory
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/AuditLogs/SuspiciousLinkingofExternalIdtoExistingUsers.yaml
Version	1.1.0
Arm template	22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859.json

KQL

AuditLogs
| where OperationName=~ "Update user" 
| where Result =~ "success" 
| mv-expand TargetResources 
| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
| extend displayName = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName), 
TargetUPN_oldValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))[0]), 
TargetUPN_newValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))[0])
| where displayName == "UserPrincipalName" and TargetUPN_oldValue !has "#EXT" and TargetUPN_newValue has "#EXT"
| extend InitiatingAppName = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.displayName)
| extend InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.servicePrincipalId)
| extend InitiatingUserPrincipalName = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.userPrincipalName)
| extend InitiatingAadUserId = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.id)
| extend InitiatingIPAddress = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.ipAddress)
| extend InitiatedBy = tostring(iff(isnotempty(InitiatingUserPrincipalName),InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAppName))
| summarize arg_max(TimeGenerated, *) by CorrelationId
| project-reorder TimeGenerated, InitiatedBy, InitiatingAppName, InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId, InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAadUserId, InitiatingIPAddress, TargetUPN_oldValue, TargetUPN_newValue
| extend InitiatingAccountName = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, "@")[0]), InitiatingAccountUPNSuffix = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, "@")[1])
| extend TargetAccountName = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, "@")[0]), TargetUPNSuffix = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, "@")[1])

YAML

id: 22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859
description: |
  ' This query will detect when an attempt is made to update an existing user and link it to an guest or external identity. These activities are unusual and such linking of external 
  identities should be investigated. In some cases you may see internal Entra ID sync accounts (Sync_) do this which may be benign'  
metadata:
  source:
    kind: Community
  author:
    name: Microsoft Security Research
  support:
    tier: Community
  categories:
    domains:
    - Security - Others
    - Identity
triggerThreshold: 0
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: Name
    columnName: InitiatingAppName
  - identifier: AadUserId
    columnName: InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId
  entityType: Account
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: InitiatingUserPrincipalName
  - identifier: Name
    columnName: InitiatingAccountName
  - identifier: UPNSuffix
    columnName: InitiatingAccountUPNSuffix
  entityType: Account
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: AadUserId
    columnName: InitiatingAadUserId
  entityType: Account
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: TargetUPN_oldValue
  - identifier: Name
    columnName: TargetAccountName
  - identifier: UPNSuffix
    columnName: TargetUPNSuffix
  entityType: Account
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: Address
    columnName: InitiatingIPAddress
  entityType: IP
queryPeriod: 1d
relevantTechniques:
- T1078.004
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Detections/AuditLogs/SuspiciousLinkingofExternalIdtoExistingUsers.yaml
tactics:
- PrivilegeEscalation
name: Suspicious linking of existing user to external User
tags:
- GuestorExternalIdentities
requiredDataConnectors:
- dataTypes:
  - AuditLogs
  connectorId: AzureActiveDirectory
triggerOperator: gt
kind: Scheduled
query: |
  AuditLogs
  | where OperationName=~ "Update user" 
  | where Result =~ "success" 
  | mv-expand TargetResources 
  | mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties 
  | extend displayName = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName), 
  TargetUPN_oldValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))[0]), 
  TargetUPN_newValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))[0])
  | where displayName == "UserPrincipalName" and TargetUPN_oldValue !has "#EXT" and TargetUPN_newValue has "#EXT"
  | extend InitiatingAppName = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.displayName)
  | extend InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.servicePrincipalId)
  | extend InitiatingUserPrincipalName = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.userPrincipalName)
  | extend InitiatingAadUserId = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.id)
  | extend InitiatingIPAddress = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.ipAddress)
  | extend InitiatedBy = tostring(iff(isnotempty(InitiatingUserPrincipalName),InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAppName))
  | summarize arg_max(TimeGenerated, *) by CorrelationId
  | project-reorder TimeGenerated, InitiatedBy, InitiatingAppName, InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId, InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAadUserId, InitiatingIPAddress, TargetUPN_oldValue, TargetUPN_newValue
  | extend InitiatingAccountName = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, "@")[0]), InitiatingAccountUPNSuffix = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, "@")[1])
  | extend TargetAccountName = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, "@")[0]), TargetUPNSuffix = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, "@")[1])  
severity: Medium
version: 1.1.0
queryFrequency: 1d

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/22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "22a320c2-e1e5-4c74-a35b-39fc9cdcf859",
        "customDetails": null,
        "description": "' This query will detect when an attempt is made to update an existing user and link it to an guest or external identity. These activities are unusual and such linking of external \nidentities should be investigated. In some cases you may see internal Entra ID sync accounts (Sync_) do this which may be benign'\n",
        "displayName": "Suspicious linking of existing user to external User",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingAppName",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId",
                "identifier": "AadUserId"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingUserPrincipalName",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingAccountName",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingAccountUPNSuffix",
                "identifier": "UPNSuffix"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingAadUserId",
                "identifier": "AadUserId"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "TargetUPN_oldValue",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "TargetAccountName",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "TargetUPNSuffix",
                "identifier": "UPNSuffix"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "IP",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "InitiatingIPAddress",
                "identifier": "Address"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Detections/AuditLogs/SuspiciousLinkingofExternalIdtoExistingUsers.yaml",
        "query": "AuditLogs\n| where OperationName=~ \"Update user\" \n| where Result =~ \"success\" \n| mv-expand TargetResources \n| mv-expand TargetResources.modifiedProperties \n| extend displayName = tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.displayName), \nTargetUPN_oldValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.oldValue))[0]), \nTargetUPN_newValue = tostring(parse_json(tostring(TargetResources_modifiedProperties.newValue))[0])\n| where displayName == \"UserPrincipalName\" and TargetUPN_oldValue !has \"#EXT\" and TargetUPN_newValue has \"#EXT\"\n| extend InitiatingAppName = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.displayName)\n| extend InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId = tostring(InitiatedBy.app.servicePrincipalId)\n| extend InitiatingUserPrincipalName = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.userPrincipalName)\n| extend InitiatingAadUserId = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.id)\n| extend InitiatingIPAddress = tostring(InitiatedBy.user.ipAddress)\n| extend InitiatedBy = tostring(iff(isnotempty(InitiatingUserPrincipalName),InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAppName))\n| summarize arg_max(TimeGenerated, *) by CorrelationId\n| project-reorder TimeGenerated, InitiatedBy, InitiatingAppName, InitiatingAppServicePrincipalId, InitiatingUserPrincipalName, InitiatingAadUserId, InitiatingIPAddress, TargetUPN_oldValue, TargetUPN_newValue\n| extend InitiatingAccountName = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, \"@\")[0]), InitiatingAccountUPNSuffix = tostring(split(InitiatingUserPrincipalName, \"@\")[1])\n| extend TargetAccountName = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, \"@\")[0]), TargetUPNSuffix = tostring(split(TargetUPN_oldValue, \"@\")[1])\n",
        "queryFrequency": "P1D",
        "queryPeriod": "P1D",
        "severity": "Medium",
        "subTechniques": [
          "T1078.004"
        ],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "PrivilegeEscalation"
        ],
        "tags": [
          "GuestorExternalIdentities"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1078"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.1.0",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}