Elastic Security Detection Rules

Microsoft Entra ID Service Principal Credentials Added by Rare User

Last updated 9 days ago on 2025-05-27
Created 4 years ago on 2021-05-05

About

Identifies when new Service Principal credentials have been added in Microsoft Entra ID. In most organizations, credentials will be added to service principals infrequently. Hijacking an application (by adding a rogue secret or certificate) with granted permissions will allow the attacker to access data that is normally protected by MFA requirements.
Tags
Domain: CloudData Source: AzureData Source: Microsoft Entra IDData Source: Microsoft Entra ID Audit LogsUse Case: Identity and Access AuditTactic: PersistenceLanguage: kuery
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Persistence (TA0003)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Account Manipulation (T1098)(opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
Service principal credential additions may be done by a system or network administrator. Verify whether the username, hostname, and/or resource name should be making changes in your environment. Credential additions from unfamiliar users or hosts should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
New Terms Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
filebeat-*logs-azure.auditlogs-*
Related Integrations

azure(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
event.dataset: "azure.auditlogs"
    and azure.auditlogs.operation_name:"Add service principal credentials"
    and event.outcome: "success"

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Microsoft Entra ID Service Principal Credentials Added by Rare User in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(opens in a new tab or window).