Suspicious FortiGate - New Local User Created (via event)

title: Suspicious FortiGate - New Local User Created (via event)
id: f768dc84-330e-5023-928f-f76a9a10129a
status: stable
description: This rule detects the creation of a new local user on a Fortinet FortiGate Firewall. The new local user could be used for VPN connections.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1136/001/
    - https://www.fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-24-535
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/fortios-log-message-reference/398/event
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/cli-reference/109120963/config-user-local
    - https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.6.4/fortios-log-message-reference/44547/44547-logid-event-config-objattr
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-02
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1136.001
logsource:
    product: fortigate
    service: event
detection:
    selection:
        action: 'Add'
        cfgpath: 'user.local'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium