Windows Event Log: MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT alerts on DROP/ TRUNCATE destructive SQL statements

Flags audited MSSQL transactions that include DROP TABLE, DROP DATABASE, or TRUNCATE TABLE.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Service: application
Author: Daniel Degasperi '@d4ns4n_' (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-06-04
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1485Data Destruction

What it detects

This rule flags MSSQL audit events where the logged SQL statement contains destructive data actions such as TRUNCATE TABLE, DROP TABLE, or DROP DATABASE. Such statements enable attackers or misconfigured users to irreversibly remove data and disrupt availability. It relies on Windows application telemetry from the MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT provider and specifically event ID 33205 containing the statement text.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Event Log: MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT alerts on DROP/ TRUNCATE destructive SQL statements

Pivot detection · T1485 · 9 related

Changelog

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.

windows-mssql-server-audit-destructive-sql-statements-drop-truncate-00321fee

title: "Windows Event Log: MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT alerts on DROP/ TRUNCATE destructive SQL statements"
id: c13d2eb3-2a49-459b-a24b-0783093ad86d
status: experimental
description: This rule flags MSSQL audit events where the logged SQL statement contains destructive data actions such as TRUNCATE TABLE, DROP TABLE, or DROP DATABASE. Such statements enable attackers or misconfigured users to irreversibly remove data and disrupt availability. It relies on Windows application telemetry from the MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT provider and specifically event ID 33205 containing the statement text.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statements/drop-table-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statements/drop-database-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statements/truncate-table-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/application/mssqlserver/win_mssql_destructive_query.yml
author: Daniel Degasperi '@d4ns4n_', Huntrule Team
date: 2025-06-04
tags:
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1485
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: application
  definition: "Requirements: MSSQL audit policy must be enabled in order to receive this event (event id 33205)"
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: MSSQLSERVER$AUDIT
    EventID: 33205
    Data|contains:
      - statement:TRUNCATE TABLE
      - statement:DROP TABLE
      - statement:DROP DATABASE
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate transaction from a sysadmin.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 00321fee-ca72-4cce-b011-5415af3b9960
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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