T1136.002: Domain Account
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.
Positive Technologies products that cover the technique
MaxPatrol SIEM knowledge base
mitre_attck_persistence: PT-CR-259: Account_Created_On_Local_System: An attempt was detected to create a local or domain account and add it to the local administrators group mitre_attck_persistence: PT-CR-264: Add_New_User_In_Commandline: An attempt to create an account using the command line or PowerShell is detected mitre_attck_persistence: PT-CR-2143: Remote_Creation_Of_Computer_Account_By_Local_User: A user initiated the creation of a computer account. Attackers create computer accounts using accounts of users that are not administrators or do not have delegated permissions to add computer accounts. The created account can be used for lateral movement or privilege escalation. mitre_attck_persistence: PT-CR-663: Created_User_On_Domain_Controller: A user created a user active_directory_attacks: PT-CR-1342: Subrule_PowerView_Objects_Actions: Remote change of domain objects (domain users and groups, machine accounts) using the PowerView tool (PowerViewPy) is detected active_directory_attacks: PT-CR-1344: Remote_Actions_With_Domain_Objects: A PowerView script was used. Attackers use the PowerView tool for reconnaissance in Windows domains.
Detection
ID | DS0009 | Data source and component | Process: Process Creation | Description | Monitor newly executed processes associated with account creation, such as net.exe |
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ID | DS0017 | Data source and component | Command: Command Execution | Description | Monitor executed commands and arguments for actions that are associated with local account creation, such as net user /add /domain. |
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ID | DS0002 | Data source and component | User Account: User Account Creation | Description | Monitor for newly constructed user accounts through account audits to detect suspicious accounts that may have been created by an adversary. Collect data on account creation within a network or Windows Event ID 4720 (for when a user account is created on a Windows system and domain controller). |
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Mitigation
ID | M1026 | Name | Privileged Account Management | Description | Limit the number of accounts with permissions to create other accounts. Do not allow domain administrator accounts to be used for day-to-day operations that may expose them to potential adversaries on unprivileged systems. |
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ID | M1032 | Name | Multi-factor Authentication | Description | Use multi-factor authentication for user and privileged accounts. |
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ID | M1028 | Name | Operating System Configuration | Description | Protect domain controllers by ensuring proper security configuration for critical servers. |
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ID | M1030 | Name | Network Segmentation | Description | Configure access controls and firewalls to limit access to domain controllers and systems used to create and manage accounts. |
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