Azure Kubernetes Activity Logs: Write/Delete of ConfigMaps or Secrets
Alerts on Azure AKS activity log operations that write or delete Kubernetes ConfigMaps or Secrets.
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 flags Azure Activity Log events where a Kubernetes connected cluster account writes or deletes ConfigMaps or Secrets. Such access is significant because it can alter application configuration or expose sensitive data used by workloads. The detection relies on the Azure Activity Logs operationName values corresponding specifically to ConfigMaps/SECRETS write and delete operations.
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_secret_or_config_object_access.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-kubernetes-service-activity-logs-secret-configmap-write-or-delete-7ee0b4aa
title: "Azure Kubernetes Activity Logs: Write/Delete of ConfigMaps or Secrets"
id: ae89d6da-e08e-465e-a240-66f826edaf29
status: test
description: This rule flags Azure Activity Log events where a Kubernetes connected cluster account writes or deletes ConfigMaps or Secrets. Such access is significant because it can alter application configuration or expose sensitive data used by workloads. The detection relies on the Azure Activity Logs operationName values corresponding specifically to ConfigMaps/SECRETS write and delete operations.
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_secret_or_config_object_access.yml
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-07
modified: 2022-08-23
tags:
- attack.impact
- attack.t1485
- attack.t1496
- attack.t1489
logsource:
product: azure
service: activitylogs
detection:
selection:
operationName:
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/CONFIGMAPS/WRITE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/CONFIGMAPS/DELETE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/SECRETS/WRITE
- MICROSOFT.KUBERNETES/CONNECTEDCLUSTERS/SECRETS/DELETE
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Sensitive objects may be accessed by a system administrator. Verify whether the user identity, user agent, and/or hostname should be making changes in your environment. Sensitive objects accessed 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: 7ee0b4aa-d8d4-4088-b661-20efdf41a04c
type: derived