Detection: GCP Multi-Factor Authentication Disabled

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: b9bc5513-6fc1-4821-85a3-e1d81e451c83 Author: Bhavin Patel, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects an attempt to disable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) user. It leverages Google Workspace Admin log events, specifically the UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH command. This activity is significant because disabling MFA can allow an adversary to maintain persistence within the environment using a compromised account without raising suspicion. If confirmed malicious, this action could enable attackers to bypass additional security layers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised account.

Search

 1`gws_reports_admin` command=UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH
 2  
 3| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
 4    BY user, command, actor.email,
 5       status, id.applicationName, event.name,
 6       vendor_account, action
 7  
 8| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
 9  
10| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
11  
12| `gcp_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter`

Data Source

Name	Platform	Sourcetype	Source
Google Workspace	Other	`'gws:reports:login'`	`'google_workspace'`

Macros Used

Name	Value
security_content_ctime	`convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)`
gcp_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter	`search *`

gcp_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK

+ Kill Chain Phases

+ NIST

+ CIS

- Threat Actors

ID	Technique	Tactic
T1556.006	Multi-Factor Authentication	Credential Access
T1586.003	Cloud Accounts	Defense Impairment

Exploitation

Weaponization

Installation

DE.CM

CIS 10

APT29

APT41

Scattered Spider

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting	Value
Disabled	true
Cron Schedule	`0 * * * *`
Earliest Time	`-70m@m`
Latest Time	`-10m@m`
Schedule Window	`auto`
Creates Finding (Notable)	Yes
Rule Title	`%name%`
Rule Description	`%description%`
Notable Event Fields	user, dest
Creates Intermediate Finding (Risk Event)	Yes

TTP detections generate a Finding (Notable) and may generate Intermediate Findings (Risk Events) for associated entities.

Implementation

You must install the latest version of Splunk Add-on for Google Workspace from Splunkbase (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/5556) which allows Splunk administrators to collect Google Workspace event data in Splunk using Google Workspace APIs. Specifically, this analytic leverages the Admin log events.

Known False Positives

Legitimate use case may require for users to disable MFA. Filter as needed.

Associated Analytic Story

Finding

Title	Entity Field	Entity Type	Risk Score
MFA disabled for User $user$ initiated by $actor.email$	actor.email	user	50

Intermediate Findings

Message	Entity Field	Entity Type	Risk Score
MFA disabled for User $user$ initiated by $actor.email$	user	user	50

References

Detection Testing

Test Type	Status	Dataset	Source	Sourcetype
Validation	✅ Passing	N/A	N/A	N/A
Unit	✅ Passing	Dataset	`gws:reports:admin`	`gws:reports:admin`
Integration	✅ Passing	Dataset	`gws:reports:admin`	`gws:reports:admin`

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 13