Azure AD New Federated Domain Added
The following analytic detects the addition of a new federated domain within an Azure Active Directory tenant. It leverages Azure AD AuditLogs to identify successful "Set domain authentication" operations. This…
Description
The following analytic detects the addition of a new federated domain within an Azure Active Directory tenant. It leverages Azure AD AuditLogs to identify successful "Set domain authentication" operations. This activity is significant as it may indicate the use of the Azure AD identity federation backdoor technique, allowing an adversary to establish persistence. If confirmed malicious, the attacker could impersonate any user, bypassing password and MFA requirements, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control over the Azure AD environment.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Identity ProviderWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- azure_active_directory_set_domain_authentication
Known benign triggers
- In most organizations, domain federation settings will be updated infrequently. Filter as needed.
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 |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/002/ | 3 |
| o365blog.com/post/federation-vulnerability/ | 3 |
| www.inversecos.com/2021/11/how-to-detect-azure-active-directory.html | 3 |
| www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/detecting-microsoft-365-azure-active-directory-backdoors | 3 |
| www.mandiant.com/resources/remediation-and-hardening-strategies-microsoft-365-defend-against-apt29-v13 | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- a87cd633-076d-4ab2-9047-977751a3c1a0
- Tagged by the source as
- Azure Active Directory PersistenceHellcat RansomwareScattered Lapsus$ HuntersStorm-0501 RansomwareAzure Active DirectorycloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securitythreat
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1