GitHub Repo

Detection: Windows AD DSRM Password Reset

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: d1ab841c-36a6-46cf-b50f-b2b04b31182a Author: Dean Luxton Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects attempts to reset the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) administrator password on a Domain Controller. It leverages event code 4794 from the Windows Security Event Log, specifically looking for events where the DSRM password reset is attempted. This activity is significant because the DSRM account can be used similarly to a local administrator account, providing potential persistence for an attacker. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to maintain administrative access to the Domain Controller, posing a severe risk to the domain's security.

 1
 2| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` min(_time) as _time FROM datamodel=Change
 3  WHERE All_Changes.result_id="4794"
 4    AND
 5    All_Changes.result="set the Directory Services Restore Mode administrator password"
 6  BY All_Changes.action, All_Changes.dest, All_Changes.src,
 7     All_Changes.user
 8
 9| `drop_dm_object_name(All_Changes)`
10
11| `windows_ad_dsrm_password_reset_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Windows Event Log Security 4794 Windows icon Windows 'XmlWinEventLog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Security'

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_summariesonly summariesonly=summariesonly_config allow_old_summaries=oldsummaries_config fillnull_value=fillnull_config``
windows_ad_dsrm_password_reset_filter search *
windows_ad_dsrm_password_reset_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
T1098 Account Manipulation Persistence
Exploitation
Installation
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) Yes
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 4794 and have the Advanced Security Audit policy Audit User Account Management within Account Management enabled.

Known False Positives

Resetting the DSRM password for legitamate reasons, i.e. forgot the password. Disaster recovery. Deploying AD backdoor deliberately.

Associated Analytic Story

Finding

Title Entity Field Entity Type Risk Score
DSRM Account Password was reset on $dest$ by $user$ user user 50

Intermediate Findings

Message Entity Field Entity Type Risk Score
DSRM Account Password was reset on $dest$ by $user$ dest system 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: 10