Azure Entra PIM Role Setting Changes in Audit Logs

Alerts on Azure PIM role setting update events recorded in audit logs.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: azure
Service: auditlogs
Author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Yochana Henderson, '@Yochana-H' (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-09
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 audit log events where a PIM role setting is updated, specifically messages indicating an "Update role setting in PIM" action. Changing PIM role configurations can enable attackers to gain or maintain privileged access by altering how time-bound or approved permissions are administered. It relies on Azure audit log telemetry capturing the exact message content for PIM role setting updates.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1078.004 — drag to rearrange

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Azure Entra PIM Role Setting Changes in Audit Logs

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-audit-logs-pim-role-setting-updates-db6c06c4

title: Azure Entra PIM Role Setting Changes in Audit Logs
id: d8de8ad0-19d3-433f-b4b1-a00003f88749
status: test
description: This rule flags audit log events where a PIM role setting is updated, specifically messages indicating an "Update role setting in PIM" action. Changing PIM role configurations can enable attackers to gain or maintain privileged access by altering how time-bound or approved permissions are administered. It relies on Azure audit log telemetry capturing the exact message content for PIM role setting updates.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/architecture/security-operations-privileged-identity-management#azure-ad-roles-assignment
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/azure/audit_logs/azure_pim_change_settings.yml
author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Yochana Henderson, '@Yochana-H', Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-09
tags:
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1078.004
logsource:
  product: azure
  service: auditlogs
detection:
  selection:
    properties.message: Update role setting in PIM
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legit administrative PIM setting configuration changes
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: db6c06c4-bf3b-421c-aa88-15672b88c743
    type: derived

Convert

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