Suspicious Reset-ComputerMachinePassword Usage via PowerShell on Windows

Detects PowerShell executions of Reset-ComputerMachinePassword that may indicate attempts to alter domain computer account authentication.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_module
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-02-21
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1078Valid Accounts
Execution
Persistence
- T1078Valid Accounts
Priv Esc
- T1078Valid Accounts
Defense Evasion
- T1078Valid Accounts
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule matches PowerShell module activity where the command context contains the string "Reset-ComputerMachinePassword". The cmdlet changes the computer account password used to authenticate to domain controllers, which can enable persistence or privilege-related follow-on activity. The detection relies on PowerShell-related telemetry that preserves the command or context text for module execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1078 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Self-Hosted GitHub Actions Runner Started As Root via Shell (via process_creation)

Suspicious Login Shell Assigned to Service Account games on Linux

Suspicious SSH Daemon Configuration Change Enabling Root Login

Suspicious NTLM Network Logon From Attacker Controlled Workstation Names (via security)

Suspicious dMSA Object Access with Migration AccessMask

Malicious ESX Admins Group Added to Privileged Directory Group

Malicious ESX Admins Group Creation via WinRM Host

Suspicious BrightMetricAgent Remote Tool Execution Associated With Volt Typhoon

Suspicious SmarterMail Force Password Reset API Request Indicating Account Takeover

Suspicious Reset-ComputerMachinePassword Usage via PowerShell on Windows

Pivot detection · T1078 · 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-powershell-reset-computermachinepassword-computer-account-password-chang-e3818659

title: Suspicious Reset-ComputerMachinePassword Usage via PowerShell on Windows
id: 7a3def67-0fd9-4321-997b-72fa73896b78
status: test
description: This rule matches PowerShell module activity where the command context contains the string "Reset-ComputerMachinePassword". The cmdlet changes the computer account password used to authenticate to domain controllers, which can enable persistence or privilege-related follow-on activity. The detection relies on PowerShell-related telemetry that preserves the command or context text for module execution.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/reset-computermachinepassword?view=powershell-5.1
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/02/21/qbot-and-zerologon-lead-to-full-domain-compromise/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_susp_reset_computermachinepassword.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-02-21
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1078
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_module
  definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
  selection:
    ContextInfo|contains: Reset-ComputerMachinePassword
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Administrator PowerShell scripts
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: e3818659-5016-4811-a73c-dde4679169d2
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL