Azure AD Unusual Number of Failed Authentications From Ip
The following analytic identifies a single source IP failing to authenticate with multiple valid users, potentially indicating a Password Spraying attack against an Azure Active Directory tenant. It uses Azure…
Description
The following analytic identifies a single source IP failing to authenticate with multiple valid users, potentially indicating a Password Spraying attack against an Azure Active Directory tenant. It uses Azure SignInLogs data and calculates the standard deviation for source IPs, applying the 3-sigma rule to detect unusual numbers of failed authentication attempts. This activity is significant as it may signal an adversary attempting to gain initial access or elevate privileges. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and potential compromise of sensitive information.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuitePRESaaSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- azure_active_directory
Known benign triggers
- A source Ip failing to authenticate with multiple users is not a common for legitimate behavior.
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/T1110/003/ | 40 |
| docs.microsoft.com/azure/active-directory/reports-monitoring/reference-sign-ins-error-codes | 6 |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security/compass/incident-response-playbook-password-spray | 7 |
| www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa21-008a | 11 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 3d8d3a36-93b8-42d7-8d91-c5f24cec223d
- Tagged by the source as
- Azure Active Directory Account TakeoverAzure Active DirectorycloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityaccess
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