Azure Automation Runbook Created
The following analytic detects the creation of a new Azure Automation Runbook within an Azure tenant. It leverages Azure Audit events, specifically the Azure Activity log category, to identify when a new Runbook is…
Description
The following analytic detects the creation of a new Azure Automation Runbook within an Azure tenant. It leverages Azure Audit events, specifically the Azure Activity log category, to identify when a new Runbook is created or updated. This activity is significant because adversaries with privileged access can use Runbooks to maintain persistence, escalate privileges, or execute malicious code. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized actions such as creating Global Administrators, executing code on VMs, and compromising the entire Azure environment.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- azure_audit_create_or_update_an_azure_automation_runbook
Known benign triggers
- Administrators may legitimately create Azure Automation Runbooks. 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/T1136/003/ | 9 |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/automation-runbook-types | 2 |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/manage-runbooks | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/overview | 3 |
| microsoft.github.io/Azure-Threat-Research-Matrix/Persistence/AZT503/AZT503-3/ | 3 |
| www.inversecos.com/2021/12/how-to-detect-malicious-azure.html | 3 |
| www.netspi.com/blog/technical/cloud-penetration-testing/maintaining-azure-persistence-via-automation-accounts/ | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 178d696d-6dc6-4ee8-9d25-93fee34eaf5b
- Tagged by the source as
- Azure Active Directory PersistenceAzure TenantcloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityaudit
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1