GCP Authentication Failed During MFA Challenge
The following analytic detects failed authentication attempts during the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) challenge on a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) tenant. It uses Google Workspace login failure events to identify…
Description
The following analytic detects failed authentication attempts during the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) challenge on a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) tenant. It uses Google Workspace login failure events to identify instances where MFA methods were challenged but not successfully completed. This activity is significant as it may indicate an adversary attempting to access an account with compromised credentials despite MFA protection. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized access attempts, potentially compromising sensitive data and resources within the GCP environment.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSOffice SuitePRESaaSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- google_workspace_login_failure
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate users may miss to reply the MFA challenge within the time window or deny it by mistake.
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/T1078/004/ | 15from 2 sources |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1621/ | 13 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 345f7e1d-a3fe-4158-abd8-e630f9878323
- Tagged by the source as
- GCP Account TakeoverScattered Lapsus$ HuntersGoogle Cloud Platform tenantcloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityidentity
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