Suspicious User Added to Local Administrator Group (via security)

title: Suspicious User Added to Local Administrator Group (via security)
id: f1e0fc65-1598-5337-9e24-2a8becd46735
status: stable
description: This rule detects the addition of a new member to the local administrator group, which could be legitimate behavior or a sign of privilege escalation behavior
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4732
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/understand-security-identifiers
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-08
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1078
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1098
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection_eid:
        EventID: 4732
    selection_group:
        - TargetUserName|startswith: 'Administr'
        - TargetSid: 'S-1-5-32-544'
    filter_main_computer_accounts:
        SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium