Azure AD audit logs: Successful user-initiated password reset

Alerts on successful Azure AD password reset events initiated by a user account.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5

Product: azure
Service: auditlogs
Author: YochanaHenderson, '@Yochana-H' (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-03
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Defense Evasion

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
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags successful Azure AD audit log events where a user initiated a password reset. Attackers may leverage password reset workflows to change account credentials for persistence or credential access without needing direct credential theft. It relies on Azure audit log telemetry, matching events in the UserManagement category with a successful status and an activity description that includes 'Password reset' associated to the initiating user.

Reporting behind it

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Azure AD audit logs: Successful user-initiated password reset

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-successful-password-reset-by-user-account-340ee172

title: "Azure AD audit logs: Successful user-initiated password reset"
id: 56f2be45-75d3-4b66-acaa-00e2a34122a5
status: test
description: This rule flags successful Azure AD audit log events where a user initiated a password reset. Attackers may leverage password reset workflows to change account credentials for persistence or credential access without needing direct credential theft. It relies on Azure audit log telemetry, matching events in the UserManagement category with a successful status and an activity description that includes 'Password reset' associated to the initiating user.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/architecture/security-operations-privileged-accounts
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/azure/audit_logs/azure_user_password_change.yml
author: YochanaHenderson, '@Yochana-H', Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-03
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1078.004
logsource:
  product: azure
  service: auditlogs
detection:
  selection:
    Category: UserManagement
    Status: Success
    Initiatedby: UPN
  filter:
    Target|contains: UPN
    ActivityType|contains: Password reset
  condition: selection and filter
falsepositives:
  - If this was approved by System Administrator or confirmed user action.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 340ee172-4b67-4fb4-832f-f961bdc1f3aa
    type: derived

Convert

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

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