Azure PIM Alert Setting Disabled (Audit Log Message Detection)

Flags Azure audit log events where PIM alerts are disabled (message: "Disable PIM Alert").

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
- T1078Valid Accounts
Execution
Persistence
- T1078Valid Accounts
Priv Esc
- T1078Valid Accounts
Defense Evasion
- T1078Valid Accounts
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Azure audit log events where PIM alerts are disabled. Reducing or turning off privileged identity monitoring can help attackers decrease visibility into role assignment and privilege activity. The detection relies on Azure audit log telemetry with a message indicating "Disable PIM Alert".

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious dMSA Object Access with Migration AccessMask

Malicious ESX Admins Group Added to Privileged Directory Group

Malicious ESX Admins Group Creation via WinRM Host

Suspicious BrightMetricAgent Remote Tool Execution Associated With Volt Typhoon

Azure PIM Alert Setting Disabled (Audit Log Message Detection)

Pivot detection · T1078 · 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-pim-alert-disablement-in-audit-logs-aeaef14c

title: Azure PIM Alert Setting Disabled (Audit Log Message Detection)
id: 3cdb1de9-36ca-4a7e-91ec-671eb2b32ba2
status: test
description: This rule flags Azure audit log events where PIM alerts are disabled. Reducing or turning off privileged identity monitoring can help attackers decrease visibility into role assignment and privilege activity. The detection relies on Azure audit log telemetry with a message indicating "Disable PIM Alert".
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_alerts_disabled.yml
author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Yochana Henderson, '@Yochana-H', Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-09
tags:
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1078
logsource:
  product: azure
  service: auditlogs
detection:
  selection:
    properties.message: Disable PIM Alert
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Administrator disabling PIM alerts as an active choice.
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: aeaef14c-e5bf-4690-a9c8-835caad458bd
    type: derived

Convert

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

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