FortiGate - New Local User Created

Description

Detects the creation of a new local user on a Fortinet FortiGate Firewall. The new local user could be used for VPN connections.

Query · sigma

selection:
  action: Add
  cfgpath: user.local
condition: selection

Known false positives

  • A local user can be created for legitimate purposes. Investigate the user details to determine if it is authorized.
Raw source FortiGate - New Local User Created · Sigma
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Published by SigmaHQ/sigma ↗, licensed under Detection Rule License 1.1 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified. 
title: FortiGate - New Local User Created
id: ddbbe845-1d74-43a8-8231-2156d180234d
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the creation of a new local user on a Fortinet FortiGate Firewall.
    The new local user could be used for VPN connections.
references:
    - https://www.fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-24-535
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/fortios-log-message-reference/398/event
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/cli-reference/109120963/config-user-local
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/fortios-log-message-reference/44547/44547-logid-event-config-objattr
author: Marco Pedrinazzi (@pedrinazziM) (InTheCyber)
date: 2025-11-01
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1136.001
logsource:
    product: fortigate
    service: event
detection:
    selection:
        action: 'Add'
        cfgpath: 'user.local'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - A local user can be created for legitimate purposes. Investigate the user details to determine if it is authorized.
level: medium

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