Browse Rules

Azure Storage Blob Retrieval via AzCopy

Identifies successful GetBlob operations on Azure Storage Accounts using AzCopy user agent with SAS token authentication. AzCopy is a command-line utility for copying data to and from Azure Storage. While legitimate for data migration, adversaries may abuse AzCopy with compromised SAS tokens to exfiltrate data from Azure Storage Accounts. This rule detects the first occurrence of GetBlob operations from a specific storage account using this pattern.

Azure Storage Account Blob Public Access Enabled

Identifies when Azure Storage Account Blob public access is enabled, allowing external access to blob containers. This technique was observed in cloud ransom-based campaigns where threat actors modified storage accounts to expose non-remotely accessible accounts to the internet for data exfiltration. Adversaries abuse the Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/write operation to modify public access settings.

Azure Storage Account Deletion by Unusual User

Identifies when an Azure Storage Account is deleted. Adversaries may delete storage accounts to disrupt operations, destroy evidence, or cause denial of service. This activity could indicate an attacker attempting to cover their tracks after data exfiltration or as part of a destructive attack. Monitoring storage account deletions is critical for detecting potential impact on business operations and data availability.

Azure Storage Account Deletions by User

Identifies when a single user or service principal deletes multiple Azure Storage Accounts within a short time period. This behavior may indicate an adversary attempting to cause widespread service disruption, destroy evidence, or execute a destructive attack such as ransomware. Mass deletion of storage accounts can have severe business impact and is rarely performed by legitimate administrators except during controlled decommissioning activities.

Azure Storage Account Keys Accessed by Privileged User

Identifies unusual high-privileged access to Azure Storage Account keys by users with Owner, Contributor, or Storage Account Contributor roles. This technique was observed in STORM-0501 ransomware campaigns where compromised identities with high-privilege Azure RBAC roles retrieved access keys to perform unauthorized operations on Storage Accounts. Microsoft recommends using Shared Access Signature (SAS) models instead of direct key access for improved security. This rule detects when a user pri

Azure Storage Account Key Regenerated

Identifies a rotation to storage account access keys in Azure. Regenerating access keys can affect any applications or Azure services that are dependent on the storage account key. Adversaries may regenerate a key as a means of acquiring credentials to access systems and resources.

Multiple Cloud Secrets Accessed by Source Address

This rule detects authenticated sessions accessing secret stores across multiple environments from the same source address within a short period of time, including cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure) and Kubernetes clusters. Adversaries with access to compromised credentials or session tokens may attempt to retrieve secrets from services such as AWS Secrets Manager, Google Secret Manager, Azure Key Vault, or Kubernetes Secrets in rapid succession to expand their access or exfiltrate sensitive info

Azure Blob Storage Container Access Level Modified

Identifies changes to container access levels in Azure. Anonymous public read access to containers and blobs in Azure is a way to share data broadly, but can present a security risk if access to sensitive data is not managed judiciously.

Azure Recovery Services Resource Deleted

Identifies the deletion of Azure Recovery Services resources. Azure Recovery Services vaults contain data for copies of VMs, workloads, servers, and other resources regarding Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Adversaries may delete these recovery services to impact backup capabilities during stable operations or to inhibit disaster recovery services during ransom-based attacks or operational disruptions.

Azure Key Vault Unusual Secret Key Usage

Identifies secrets, keys, or certificates retrieval operations from Azure Key Vault by a user principal that has not been seen previously doing so in a certain amount of days. Azure Key Vault is a cloud service for securely storing and accessing secrets, keys, and certificates. Unauthorized or excessive retrievals may indicate potential abuse or unauthorized access attempts.

Azure Key Vault Excessive Secret or Key Retrieved

Identifies excessive secret or key retrieval operations from Azure Key Vault. This rule detects when a user principal retrieves secrets or keys from Azure Key Vault multiple times within a short time frame, which may indicate potential abuse or unauthorized access attempts. The rule focuses on high-frequency retrieval operations that deviate from normal user behavior, suggesting possible credential harvesting or misuse of sensitive information.

Azure Blob Storage Permissions Modified

Identifies when the Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC) permissions are modified for an Azure Blob. An adversary may modify the permissions on a blob to weaken their target's security controls or an administrator may inadvertently modify the permissions, which could lead to data exposure or loss.

Azure Compute Restore Point Collection Deleted by Unusual User

Identifies the deletion of Azure Restore Point Collections by a user who has not previously performed this activity. Restore Point Collections contain recovery points for virtual machines, enabling point-in-time recovery capabilities. Adversaries may delete these collections to prevent recovery during ransomware attacks or to cover their tracks during malicious operations.

Azure Compute Snapshot Deletion by Unusual User and Resource Group

Identifies when an Azure disk snapshot is deleted by an unusual user in a specific resource group. Snapshots are critical for backup, disaster recovery, and forensic analysis. Adversaries may delete snapshots to prevent data recovery, eliminate forensic evidence, or disrupt backup strategies before executing ransomware or other destructive attacks. Monitoring snapshot deletions is essential for detecting potential attacks targeting backup and recovery capabilities.

Azure Compute Snapshot Deletions by User

Identifies when a single user or service principal deletes multiple Azure disk snapshots within a short time period. This behavior may indicate an adversary attempting to inhibit system recovery capabilities, destroy backup evidence, or prepare for a ransomware attack. Mass deletion of snapshots eliminates restore points and significantly impacts disaster recovery capabilities, making it a critical indicator of potentially malicious activity.

Azure Compute Restore Point Collections Deleted

Identifies multiple Azure Restore Point Collections being deleted by a single user within a short time period. Restore Point Collections contain recovery points for virtual machines, enabling point-in-time recovery capabilities. Mass deletion of these collections is a common tactic used by adversaries during ransomware attacks to prevent victim recovery or to maximize impact during destructive operations. Multiple deletions in rapid succession may indicate malicious intent.

Azure Compute VM Command Executed

Identifies synchronous command execution on a virtual machine (VM) or virtual machine scale set (VMSS) in Azure via the action-based Run Command ("runCommand/action"). A Virtual Machine Contributor role lets you manage virtual machines, but not access them, nor access the virtual network or storage account they’re connected to. However, commands can be run on the VM via the Run Command feature, which execute as System (Windows) or root (Linux). Other roles, such as certain Administrator roles, m

Entra ID Sharepoint or OneDrive Accessed by Unusual Client

Identifies when an application accesses SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business for the first time in the tenant within a specified timeframe. This detects successful OAuth phishing campaigns, illicit consent grants, or compromised third-party applications gaining initial access to file storage. Adversaries often use malicious OAuth applications or phishing techniques to gain consent from users, allowing persistent access to organizational data repositories without traditional credential thef