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

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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

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