Azure Audit Logs: Application AppID URI Updates via App or Service Principal Changes

Alerts on Azure audit log entries indicating updates to an application or service principal AppID URI configuration.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: azure
Service: auditlogs
Author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Bailey Bercik '@baileybercik' (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-02
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1078.004Cloud Accounts
Execution
Persistence
- T1078.004Cloud Accounts
Priv Esc
- T1078.004Cloud Accounts
Defense Evasion
- T1078.004Cloud Accounts
Cred Access
- T1552Unsecured Credentials
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies events where an application or service principal is updated, specifically when the AppID URI configuration is changed. Attackers may alter AppID URI values to redirect authentication flows or maintain persistence by changing how identities are recognized. Detection relies on Azure audit log entries that contain the update message indicating an application or service principal was updated.

Reporting behind it

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Azure Audit Logs: Application AppID URI Updates via App or Service Principal Changes

Pivot detection · T1078.004 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No 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-ad-audit-logs-appid-uri-configuration-updates-for-applications-or-service--1b45b0d1

title: "Azure Audit Logs: Application AppID URI Updates via App or Service Principal Changes"
id: d44cb102-d13e-4f3f-9143-e7a3ae77e378
status: test
description: This rule identifies events where an application or service principal is updated, specifically when the AppID URI configuration is changed. Attackers may alter AppID URI values to redirect authentication flows or maintain persistence by changing how identities are recognized. Detection relies on Azure audit log entries that contain the update message indicating an application or service principal was updated.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/architecture/security-operations-applications#appid-uri-added-modified-or-removed
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/azure/audit_logs/azure_app_appid_uri_changes.yml
author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Bailey Bercik '@baileybercik', Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-02
tags:
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1552
  - attack.t1078.004
logsource:
  product: azure
  service: auditlogs
detection:
  selection:
    properties.message:
      - Update Application
      - Update Service principal
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - When and administrator is making legitimate AppID URI configuration changes to an application. This should be a planned event.
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1b45b0d1-773f-4f23-aedc-814b759563b1
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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