huntrule

Windows Security: Hidden Local User Account Creation (Event ID 4720)

Alerts on Windows 4720 local user creation for hidden accounts (username ending with '$'), excluding 'HomeGroupUser$'.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
security
Author
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-05-03
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence

  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 identifies creation of a local Windows user account whose name ends with a dollar sign, which indicates a hidden account pattern. Attackers may create hidden accounts to persist on a system while reducing visibility to administrators. It relies on Windows Security audit event ID 4720 telemetry and the TargetUserName field, excluding one known HomeGroup account variant.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1136.001 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Local Administrator Account Creation via Net Command via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Suspicious Rogue Machine Account Creation via Powermad New-MachineAccount
Malicious Local Administrator Account Added via net localgroup (via process_creation)
Malicious Switch User to Rogue Root-Equivalent Account troot (via process_creation)
Malicious Rogue F5 BIG-IP Administrator Account Creation via tmsh (via process_creation)
Suspicious Hidden Local Account Creation SqlDbAdmin via Process Creation
PowerShell Local Account Creation With Self-Deleting Script
Suspicious Creation of ctxsvc Local Account via net Command
Suspicious Local Administrator Account Addition via net localgroup
Windows Security: Hidden Local User Account Creation (Event ID 4720)
Pivot detection · T1136.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.