Detection: Azure AD Multiple Denied MFA Requests For User

Updated Date: 2024-05-18 ID: d0895c20-de71-4fd2-b56c-3fcdb888eba1 Author: Mauricio Velazco, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects an unusually high number of denied Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requests for a single user within a 10-minute window, specifically when more than nine MFA prompts are declined. It leverages Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) sign-in logs, focusing on "Sign-in activity" events with error code 500121 and additional details indicating "MFA denied; user declined the authentication." This behavior is significant as it may indicate a targeted attack or account compromise attempt, with the user actively declining unauthorized access. If confirmed malicious, it could lead to data exfiltration, lateral movement, or further malicious activities.

Search

1`azure_monitor_aad` category=SignInLogs operationName="Sign-in activity" 
2| rename properties.* as * 
3| search status.errorCode=500121 status.additionalDetails="MFA denied; user declined the authentication" 
4| bucket span=10m _time 
5| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by user, status.additionalDetails, appDisplayName, user_agent 
6| where count > 9 
7| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
8| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
9| `azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_filter`

Data Source

Name	Platform	Sourcetype	Source	Supported App
Azure Active Directory Sign-in activity	Azure	`'azure:monitor:aad'`	`'Azure AD'`	N/A

Macros Used

Name	Value
azure_monitor_aad	`sourcetype=azure:monitor:aad`
azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_filter	`search *`

azure_ad_multiple_denied_mfa_requests_for_user_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
T1621	Multi-Factor Authentication Request Generation	Credential Access

KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON

NistCategory.DE_CM

Cis18Value.CIS_10

APT29

LAPSUS$

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 Notable	Yes
Rule Title	`%name%`
Rule Description	`%description%`
Notable Event Fields	user, dest
Creates Risk Event	True

This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

You must install the latest version of Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Cloud Services from Splunkbase (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/3110/#/details). You must be ingesting Azure Active Directory events into your Splunk environment through an EventHub. This analytic was written to be used with the azure:monitor:aad sourcetype leveraging the Signin log category.

Known False Positives

Multiple denifed MFA requests in a short period of span may also be a sign of authentication errors. Investigate and filter as needed.

Associated Analytic Story

Azure Active Directory Account Takeover

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message	Risk Score	Impact	Confidence
User $user$ denied more than 9 MFA requests in a timespan of 10 minutes.	54	60	90

The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type	Status	Dataset	Source	Sourcetype
Validation	✅ Passing	N/A	N/A	N/A
Unit	✅ Passing	Dataset	`Azure AD`	`azure:monitor:aad`
Integration	✅ Passing	Dataset	`Azure AD`	`azure:monitor:aad`

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: 3