Azure Kubernetes RBAC RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding Written or Deleted
Alerts on Azure Kubernetes RBAC RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding write or delete events that may indicate permission changes.
FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5
- Product
- azure
- Service
- activitylogs
- Author
- Austin Songer @austinsonger (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-08-07
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ImpactRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
What it detects
This rule identifies Azure Activity Log events where Kubernetes RBAC RoleBinding or ClusterRoleBinding objects are written (created/modified) or deleted. Attackers may change these bindings to grant or remove cluster permissions, enabling privilege escalation or unauthorized access. The detection relies on Activity Log operationName telemetry for RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding write and delete operations and can be investigated by the requesting identity.
Reporting behind it
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/resource-provider-operations#microsoftkubernetes
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/23/secure-containerized-environments-with-updated-threat-matrix-for-kubernetes/
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/04/02/attack-matrix-kubernetes/
- medium.comhttps://medium.com/mitre-engenuity/att-ck-for-containers-now-available-4c2359654bf1
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/azure/activity_logs/azure_kubernetes_rolebinding_modified_or_deleted.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
azure-activity-logs-rolebinding-clusterrolebinding-created-patched-or-deleted-ku-25cb259b
title: Azure Kubernetes RBAC RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding Written or Deleted
id: 3a4bd822-c7ed-48f9-9ccd-97f4b034b088
status: test
description: This rule identifies Azure Activity Log events where Kubernetes RBAC RoleBinding or ClusterRoleBinding objects are written (created/modified) or deleted. Attackers may change these bindings to grant or remove cluster permissions, enabling privilege escalation or unauthorized access. The detection relies on Activity Log operationName telemetry for RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding write and delete operations and can be investigated by the requesting identity.
references:
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/resource-provider-operations#microsoftkubernetes
- https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/23/secure-containerized-environments-with-updated-threat-matrix-for-kubernetes/
- https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/04/02/attack-matrix-kubernetes/
- https://medium.com/mitre-engenuity/att-ck-for-containers-now-available-4c2359654bf1
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/azure/activity_logs/azure_kubernetes_rolebinding_modified_or_deleted.yml
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-07
modified: 2022-08-23
tags:
- attack.impact
- attack.credential-access
- attack.t1485
- attack.t1496
- attack.t1489
logsource:
product: azure
service: activitylogs
detection:
selection:
operationName:
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/RBAC.AUTHORIZATION.K8S.IO/CLUSTERROLEBINDINGS/WRITE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/RBAC.AUTHORIZATION.K8S.IO/CLUSTERROLEBINDINGS/DELETE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/RBAC.AUTHORIZATION.K8S.IO/ROLEBINDINGS/WRITE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/RBAC.AUTHORIZATION.K8S.IO/ROLEBINDINGS/DELETE
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding being modified and deleted may be performed by a system administrator. Verify whether the user identity, user agent, and/or hostname should be making changes in your environment.
- RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding modification from unfamiliar users should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 25cb259b-bbdc-4b87-98b7-90d7c72f8743
type: derived