Cross-source coverage

T1136.002 / ATT&CK

Create Account: Domain Account

17 rules across 5 sources.

From MITRE ATT&CK 19.2

Adversaries may create a domain account to maintain access to victim systems. Domain accounts are those managed by Active Directory Domain Services where access and permissions are configured across systems and services that are part of that domain. Domain accounts can cover user, administrator, and service accounts. With a sufficient level of access, the net user /add /domain command can be used to create a domain account.

Such accounts may be used to establish secondary credentialed access that do not require persistent remote access tools to be deployed on the system.

Tactics
Persistence
Platforms
Linux · macOS · Windows
Telemetry
WinEventLog:SecurityWinEventLog:Sysmonauditd:SYSCALLNSM:Flowmacos:unifiedlog

How MITRE says to detect it DET0003

T1136.002 Detection Strategy - Domain Account Creation Across Platforms

Windows Analytic 0006

Adversary uses built-in tools such as 'net user /add /domain' or PowerShell to create a domain user account. The behavior chain includes: (1) suspicious process execution on a domain controller followed by (2) user account creation event (Event ID 4720) on the same host.

  • WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4720
  • WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1

Linux Analytic 0007

Adversary with access to domain management tools (e.g., `realmd`, `samba-tool`, `ldapmodify`) creates a new domain user via command-line utilities. Behavior chain: LDAP command or script triggers → user entry added in AD via Kerberos/LDAP traffic.

  • auditd:SYSCALL execution of realmd, samba-tool, or ldapmodify with user-related arguments
  • NSM:Flow TGS-REQ and AS-REQ seen for new user shortly after domain-modifying process

macOS Analytic 0008

macOS clients joined to AD via LDAP may script account provisioning via `dsconfigad`, `dscl`, or LDAP scripts. Detection occurs when such tools run on a domain-joined system, followed by authentication attempts by a previously unseen account.

  • macos:unifiedlog dsconfigad or dscl with create or append options for AD-bound users
  • macos:unifiedlog UserLoggedIn

SigmaHQ/sigma

6 rules
Detection Severity Format
ADCS - Certighost Ghost Machine Account Creation High Sigma
PSEXEC Remote Execution File Artefact High Sigma
Suspicious Windows ANONYMOUS LOGON Local Account Created High Sigma
Manipulation of User Computer or Group Security Principals Across AD Medium Sigma
New User Account Creation Attempt Via ADSI Medium Sigma
New User Account Creation Attempt Via ADSI in CommandLine Medium Sigma

splunk/security_content

5 rules
Detection Severity Format
Windows Computer Account Changed to Domain Controller Undefined SPL
Windows ESX Admins Group Creation Security Event Undefined SPL
Windows ESX Admins Group Creation via Net Undefined SPL
Windows ESX Admins Group Creation via PowerShell Undefined SPL
Windows Privileged Group Modification Undefined SPL

Bert-JanP/Hunting-Queries-Detection-Rules

2 rules
Detection Severity Format
Commandline User Addition Undefined KQL
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping Undefined KQL

elastic/detection-rules

2 rules
Detection Severity Format
dMSA Account Creation by an Unusual User High Elastic TOML
User Account Creation Low Elastic TOML

socfortress/Wazuh-Rules

2 rules
Detection Severity Format
LDAP domain admin account creation attempt detected (ldapadd targeting admin-related LDIF) High Wazuh XML
LDAP domain user account creation attempt detected (ldapadd with any LDIF file) Medium Wazuh XML

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