GitHub Audit: Organizational High-Risk Security Controls Disabled

title: "GitHub Audit: Organizational High-Risk Security Controls Disabled"
id: f6189a43-b3d8-4bca-b32b-14c67a593618
status: test
description: This rule flags GitHub audit log events where security-critical settings are disabled at the organization or repository level, including advanced security controls, OAuth app restrictions, and two-factor authentication requirements. Attackers may disable these protections to reduce detection and persistence opportunities or weaken account/session safeguards. The detection relies on GitHub audit log action events matching the specified security-disable action names.
references:
  - https://docs.github.com/en/organizations/managing-oauth-access-to-your-organizations-data/disabling-oauth-app-access-restrictions-for-your-organization
  - https://docs.github.com/en/organizations/keeping-your-organization-secure/managing-security-settings-for-your-organization/reviewing-the-audit-log-for-your-organization#dependabot_alerts-category-actions
  - https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/enabling-features-for-your-repository/managing-security-and-analysis-settings-for-your-repository
  - https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-cloud@latest/admin/monitoring-activity-in-your-enterprise/reviewing-audit-logs-for-your-enterprise/audit-log-events-for-your-enterprise
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/application/github/audit/github_disable_high_risk_configuration.yml
author: Muhammad Faisal (@faisalusuf), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-01-29
modified: 2024-07-22
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1556
logsource:
  product: github
  service: audit
  definition: "Requirements: The audit log streaming feature must be enabled to be able to receive such logs. You can enable following the documentation here: https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-cloud@latest/admin/monitoring-activity-in-your-enterprise/reviewing-audit-logs-for-your-enterprise/streaming-the-audit-log-for-your-enterprise#setting-up-audit-log-streaming"
detection:
  selection:
    action:
      - business_advanced_security.disabled_for_new_repos
      - business_advanced_security.disabled_for_new_user_namespace_repos
      - business_advanced_security.disabled
      - business_advanced_security.user_namespace_repos_disabled
      - org.advanced_security_disabled_for_new_repos
      - org.advanced_security_disabled_on_all_repos
      - org.advanced_security_policy_selected_member_disabled
      - org.disable_oauth_app_restrictions
      - org.disable_two_factor_requirement
      - repo.advanced_security_disabled
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Approved administrator/owner activities.
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 8622c92d-c00e-463c-b09d-fd06166f6794
    type: derived