O365 Privileged Graph API Permission Assigned

Original Source: [splunk source]
Name:O365 Privileged Graph API Permission Assigned
id:868f3131-d5e1-4bf1-af5b-9b0fbaaaedbb
version:3
date:2024-09-30
author:Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
status:production
type:TTP
Description:The following analytic detects the assignment of critical Graph API permissions in Azure AD using the O365 Unified Audit Log. It focuses on permissions such as Application.ReadWrite.All, AppRoleAssignment.ReadWrite.All, and RoleManagement.ReadWrite.Directory. The detection method leverages Azure Active Directory workload events, specifically 'Update application' operations. This activity is significant as these permissions provide extensive control over Azure AD settings, posing a high risk if misused. If confirmed malicious, this could allow unauthorized modifications, leading to potential data breaches or privilege escalation. Immediate investigation is crucial.
Data_source:
  • -O365 Update application.
search:`o365_management_activity` Workload=AzureActiveDirectory Operation="Update application."
| eval newvalue = mvindex('ModifiedProperties{}.NewValue',0)
| spath input=newvalue
| search "{}.RequiredAppPermissions{}.EntitlementId"="1bfefb4e-e0b5-418b-a88f-73c46d2cc8e9" OR "{}.RequiredAppPermissions{}.EntitlementId"="06b708a9-e830-4db3-a914-8e69da51d44f" OR "{}.RequiredAppPermissions{}.EntitlementId"="9e3f62cf-ca93-4989-b6ce-bf83c28f9fe8"
| eval Permissions = '{}.RequiredAppPermissions{}.EntitlementId'
| stats count earliest(_time) as firstTime latest(_time) as lastTime values(Permissions) by user, object, user_agent, Operation
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `o365_privileged_graph_api_permission_assigned_filter`


how_to_implement:You must install the Splunk Microsoft Office 365 Add-on and ingest Office 365 management activity events.
known_false_positives:Privileged Graph API permissions may be assigned for legitimate purposes. Filter as needed.
References:
  -https://cloudbrothers.info/en/azure-attack-paths/
  -https://github.com/mandiant/Mandiant-Azure-AD-Investigator/blob/master/MandiantAzureADInvestigator.json
  -https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/permissions-reference
  -https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/01/25/midnight-blizzard-guidance-for-responders-on-nation-state-attack/
  -https://posts.specterops.io/azure-privilege-escalation-via-azure-api-permissions-abuse-74aee1006f48
drilldown_searches:
name:'View the detection results for - "$user$"'
search:'%original_detection_search% | search user = "$user$"'
earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$'
latest_offset:'$info_max_time$'
name:'View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$"'
search:'| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$") starthoursago=168 | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$'
latest_offset:'$info_max_time$'
tags:
  analytic_story:
    - 'Office 365 Persistence Mechanisms'
    - 'NOBELIUM Group'
  asset_type:O365 Tenant
  confidence:60
  impact:90
  message:User $user$ assigned privileged Graph API permissions to $object$
  mitre_attack_id:
    - 'T1003.002'
  observable:
    name:'user'
    type:'User'
    - role:
      - 'Victim'
  product:
    - 'Splunk Enterprise'
    - 'Splunk Enterprise Security'
    - 'Splunk Cloud'
  risk_score:54
  required_fields:
    - '_time'
    - 'Workload'
    - 'Operation'
    - 'ModifiedProperties{}.NewValue'
    - 'RequiredAppPermissions{}.EntitlementId'
    - 'user'
    - 'object'
    - 'user_agent'
    - 'Operation'
  security_domain:identity

tests:
name:'True Positive Test'
 attack_data:
  data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1098.003/o365_privileged_graph_perm_assigned/o365_privileged_graph_perm_assigned.log
  sourcetype: o365:management:activity
  source: o365
manual_test:None