huntrule

Google Workspace Admin Role Privilege Removed via REMOVE_PRIVILEGE

Triggers on Google Workspace role privilege removal events (REMOVE_PRIVILEGE) in Admin audit logs.

FreeUnreviewedSigmamediumv1
title: Google Workspace Admin Role Privilege Removed via REMOVE_PRIVILEGE
id: 47e3efef-1e0e-40ef-9606-945ae6c83f67
status: test
description: This rule alerts when Google Workspace removes a role privilege, using the admin activity event with eventName set to REMOVE_PRIVILEGE. Deleting privileges can reduce access controls and may enable persistence by altering what users and admins can do. It relies on Google Workspace Admin audit telemetry from admin.googleapis.com that records the privilege removal action.
references:
  - https://cloud.google.com/logging/docs/audit/gsuite-audit-logging#3
  - https://developers.google.com/admin-sdk/reports/v1/appendix/activity/admin-delegated-admin-settings
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/cloud/gcp/gworkspace/admin/gcp_gworkspace_role_privilege_deleted.yml
author: Austin Songer, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-24
modified: 2023-10-11
tags:
  - attack.impact
logsource:
  product: gcp
  service: google_workspace.admin
detection:
  selection:
    eventService: admin.googleapis.com
    eventName: REMOVE_PRIVILEGE
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bf638ef7-4d2d-44bb-a1dc-a238252e6267
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule alerts when Google Workspace removes a role privilege, using the admin activity event with eventName set to REMOVE_PRIVILEGE. Deleting privileges can reduce access controls and may enable persistence by altering what users and admins can do. It relies on Google Workspace Admin audit telemetry from admin.googleapis.com that records the privilege removal action.

Known false positives

  • Unknown

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.