| ID | Technique | Tactic |
|---|---|---|
| T1207 | Rogue Domain Controller | Defense Impairment |
Detection: Windows AD Short Lived Domain Controller SPN Attribute
Description
The following analytic detects the temporary addition of a global catalog SPN or a DRS RPC SPN to an Active Directory computer object, indicative of a potential DCShadow attack. This detection leverages EventCode 5136 from the wineventlog_security data source, focusing on specific SPN attribute changes. This activity is significant as DCShadow attacks allow attackers with privileged access to register rogue Domain Controllers, enabling unauthorized changes to the AD infrastructure. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized replication of changes, including credentials and keys, compromising the entire domain's security.
Search
1`wineventlog_security` EventCode=5136 AttributeLDAPDisplayName=servicePrincipalName (AttributeValue="GC/*" OR AttributeValue="E3514235-4B06-11D1-AB04-00C04FC2DCD2/*")
2
3| stats min(_time) as _time range(_time) as duration values(OperationType) as OperationType values(user) as user values(src_ip) as src_ip values(src_nt_domain) as src_nt_domain values(src_user) as src_user values(Computer) as dest, values(ObjectDN) as ObjectDN values(action) as action values(app) as app values(authentication_method) as authentication_method values(signature) as signature values(signature_id) as signature_id values(src) as src
4 BY Logon_ID
5
6| eval short_lived=case((duration<30),"TRUE")
7
8| where short_lived="TRUE" AND mvcount(OperationType)>1
9
10| replace "%%14674" with "Value Added", "%%14675" with "Value Deleted" in OperationType
11
12| rename Logon_ID as TargetLogonId
13
14| appendpipe [
15
16| map search="search `wineventlog_security` EventCode=4624 TargetLogonId=$TargetLogonId$"]
17
18| `windows_ad_short_lived_domain_controller_spn_attribute_filter`
Data Source
| Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Event Log Security 4624 |  Windows |
'XmlWinEventLog' |
'XmlWinEventLog:Security' |
| Windows Event Log Security 5136 | Windows |
'XmlWinEventLog' |
'XmlWinEventLog:Security' |
Macros Used
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| wineventlog_security | eventtype="wineventlog_security" OR Channel="security" OR source="XmlWinEventLog:Security" OR source="WinEventLog:Security" |
| windows_ad_short_lived_domain_controller_spn_attribute_filter | search * |
windows_ad_short_lived_domain_controller_spn_attribute_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
Exploitation
DE.CM
CIS 10
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) | No |
TTP detections generate a Finding (Notable) and may generate Intermediate Findings (Risk Events) for associated entities.
Implementation
To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting eventcode 5136. The Advanced Security Audit policy setting Audit Directory Services Changes within DS Access needs to be enabled, alongside a SACL for everybody to Write All Properties applied to the domain root and all descendant objects.
Known False Positives
No false positives have been identified at this time.
Associated Analytic Story
Finding
| Title | Entity Field | Entity Type | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Lived Domain Controller SPN AD Attribute Triggered by $src_user$ | src_user | user | 50 |
References
Detection Testing
| Test Type | Status | Dataset | Source | Sourcetype |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Validation | ✅ Passing | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Unit | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Security |
XmlWinEventLog |
| Integration | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Security |
XmlWinEventLog |
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: 14