huntrule

Windows Security Event 4794 Password Change for DSRM Account

Flags potential changes to the DSRM administrator password on Windows domain controllers using Security EventID 4794.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
security
Author
Thomas Patzke (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2017-02-19
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

  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 Security log EventID 4794, which indicates an attempt to change the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) administrator password on a domain controller. Changing the DSRM password can be used by an attacker to maintain access or regain control during directory service recovery scenarios. It relies on Security auditing telemetry for the password-change event from the affected domain controller.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1098 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Azure Key Vault Access Policy Modification
Malicious Cluster-Admin Role Binding Creation (via audit)
Malicious User Password Change Using Current Hash Password - ChangeNTLM - Mimikatz (via security)
Suspicious Account Password Set to Never Expire. (via security)
Malicious Modification of a Computer Account SPN (via security)
Suspicious Massive Group Membership Changes (via security)
Malicious High Risk Active Directory Group Membership Change (via security)
Malicious Account Marked as Sensitive and Cannot Be Delegated Had Its Protection Removed (via security)
Malicious Host Constrained Delegation Settings Changed for Potential Abuse (Rubeus) - Kerberos Only (via security)
Windows Security Event 4794 Password Change for DSRM Account
Pivot detection · T1098 · 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.