Bitbucket Audit: Secret Scanning Exempt Repository Added

Flags Bitbucket audit events where a repository is added as exempt from secret scanning.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: bitbucket
Service: audit
Author: Muhammad Faisal (@faisalusuf) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2024-02-25
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Bitbucket audit events where a repository is added to the secret scanning exempt list. Attackers may use exemptions to avoid automated detection of exposed credentials in repositories. The detection relies on Bitbucket audit log telemetry identifying the repository category and the specific action "Secret scanning exempt repository added".

Reporting behind it

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Bitbucket Audit: Secret Scanning Exempt Repository Added

Pivot detection · T1685 · 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.

bitbucket-audit-secret-scanning-exempt-repository-added-b91e8d5e

title: "Bitbucket Audit: Secret Scanning Exempt Repository Added"
id: ac478d76-81a6-4a89-8b9d-92d940c4e80d
status: test
description: This rule flags Bitbucket audit events where a repository is added to the secret scanning exempt list. Attackers may use exemptions to avoid automated detection of exposed credentials in repositories. The detection relies on Bitbucket audit log telemetry identifying the repository category and the specific action "Secret scanning exempt repository added".
references:
  - https://confluence.atlassian.com/bitbucketserver/audit-log-events-776640423.html
  - https://confluence.atlassian.com/bitbucketserver/secret-scanning-1157471613.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/application/bitbucket/audit/bitbucket_audit_secret_scanning_exempt_repository_detected.yml
author: Muhammad Faisal (@faisalusuf), Huntrule Team
date: 2024-02-25
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  product: bitbucket
  service: audit
  definition: 'Requirements: "Basic" log level is required to receive these audit events.'
detection:
  selection:
    auditType.category: Repositories
    auditType.action: Secret scanning exempt repository added
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate user activity.
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b91e8d5e-0033-44fe-973f-b730316f23a1
    type: derived

Convert

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

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