GitHub Secret Scanning Disabled for Enterprise or Repository

Flags GitHub audit events that disable secret scanning for an enterprise or repository, reducing exposed secret detection.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: github
Service: audit
Author: Muhammad Faisal (@faisalusuf) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2024-03-07
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

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 identifies audit actions that disable secret scanning for an entire enterprise or for new/existing repositories. Attackers can reduce exposure by turning off secret scanning, delaying detection and increasing the likelihood that credentials and other sensitive data remain undetected. It relies on GitHub audit log events containing the specific secret scanning disable action names.

Reporting behind it

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GitHub Secret Scanning Disabled for Enterprise or Repository

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.

github-secret-scanning-disabled-audit-actions-for-enterprise-or-repository-3883d9a0

title: GitHub Secret Scanning Disabled for Enterprise or Repository
id: c361b322-ac62-4359-8156-8a04ec2361fd
status: test
description: This rule identifies audit actions that disable secret scanning for an entire enterprise or for new/existing repositories. Attackers can reduce exposure by turning off secret scanning, delaying detection and increasing the likelihood that credentials and other sensitive data remain undetected. It relies on GitHub audit log events containing the specific secret scanning disable action names.
references:
  - https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-cloud@latest/code-security/secret-scanning/about-secret-scanning
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/application/github/audit/github_secret_scanning_feature_disabled.yml
author: Muhammad Faisal (@faisalusuf), Huntrule Team
date: 2024-03-07
modified: 2024-07-19
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
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_secret_scanning.disable
      - business_secret_scanning.disabled_for_new_repos
      - repository_secret_scanning.disable
      - secret_scanning_new_repos.disable
      - secret_scanning.disable
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Allowed administrative activities.
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 3883d9a0-fd0f-440f-afbb-445a2a799bb8
    type: derived

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