huntrule

Windows Kerberos Key Distribution Center: CVE-2021-42278 Exploitation Attempt Indicators (Event 35–38)

Alerts on Windows Kerberos KDC ticket anomalies (EventIDs 35–38) associated with CVE-2021-42278 exploitation attempts.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5
Product
windows
Service
system
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-12-15
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows system events from the Microsoft-Windows-Kerberos-Key-Distribution-Center service that match PAC/Ticket integrity anomalies associated with CVE-2021-42278 exploitation attempts. Attackers may attempt to obtain unauthorized access by manipulating Kerberos-related artifacts, which can surface as missing or inconsistent PAC/requestor information. The detection relies on telemetry from the Kerberos Key Distribution Center with Event IDs 35, 36, 37, or 38.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1558.003 — drag to rearrange
Windows HackTool Execution: GoldenDMSA.exe Launch with Directory Manipulation Parameters
Possible Kerberoasting via RC4 Service Ticket Requests
Suspicious LDAP Query Enumerating Kerberos Preauth Disabled Accounts with Whitespace Evasion
Suspicious Kerberoasting LDAP Search Filter for Service Principal Names
Suspicious Kerberoasting via RC4 Service Ticket Request for MSSQLSvc SPN (via security)
Malicious Kerberos Ticket File Creation Indicating Credential Theft (via file_event)
Suspicious Kerberoasting via setspn Service Principal Query
Masquerading Kerberos Ticket Abuse via Rubeus (via process_creation)
Possible Targeted Kerberoasting via servicePrincipalName Modification
Windows Kerberos Key Distribution Center: CVE-2021-42278 Exploitation Attempt Indicators (Event 35–38)
Pivot detection · T1558.003 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.