Azure Compute VM Command Executed
Identifies synchronous command execution on a virtual machine (VM) or virtual machine scale set (VMSS) in Azure via the action-based Run Command ("runCommand/action"). A Virtual Machine Contributor role lets you…
Description
Identifies synchronous command execution on a virtual machine (VM) or virtual machine scale set (VMSS) in Azure via the action-based Run Command ("runCommand/action"). A Virtual Machine Contributor role lets you manage virtual machines, but not access them, nor access the virtual network or storage account they’re connected to. However, commands can be run on the VM via the Run Command feature, which execute as System (Windows) or root (Linux). Other roles, such as certain Administrator roles, may be able to execute commands on a VM as well.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- Command execution on a virtual machine may be done by a system or network administrator. Verify whether the username, hostname, and/or resource name should be making changes in your environment. Command execution from unfamiliar users or hosts should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| adsecurity.org/?p=4277 | 4from 2 sources |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/built-in-roles#virtual-machine-contributor | 3 |
| hackingthe.cloud/azure/run-command-abuse/ | 4 |
| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/run-command-managed | 2 |
| posts.specterops.io/attacking-azure-azure-ad-and-introducing-powerzure-ca70b330511a | 6 |
| www.netspi.com/blog/technical-blog/adversary-simulation/7-ways-to-execute-command-on-azure-virtual-machine-virtual-machine-scale-sets/ | 6 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 60884af6-f553-4a6c-af13-300047455491
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: AzureData Source: Azure Activity LogsDomain: CloudDomain: EndpointNoise: HighPerformance: FastPlatform: AzureProfile: AggressiveResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: New TermsTactic: ExecutionUse Case: Threat Detection
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3