PetitPotam Suspicious Kerberos TGT Request
The following analytic detects a suspicious Kerberos Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) request, identified by Event Code 4768. This detection leverages Windows Security Event Logs to identify TGT requests with unusual…
Description
The following analytic detects a suspicious Kerberos Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) request, identified by Event Code 4768. This detection leverages Windows Security Event Logs to identify TGT requests with unusual fields, which may indicate the use of tools like Rubeus following the exploitation of CVE-2021-36942 (PetitPotam). This activity is significant as it can signal an attacker leveraging a compromised certificate to request Kerberos tickets, potentially leading to unauthorized access. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to escalate privileges and persist within the environment, posing a severe security risk.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- windows_event_log_security_4768
Known benign triggers
- False positives are possible if the environment is using certificates for authentication, since PreAuthType 2 can appear on some initial or fallback authentication flows alongside a populated certificate field. Tune further based on observed authentication patterns in the environment.
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 |
|---|---|
| isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Active+Directory+Certificate+Services+ADCS+PKI+domain+admin+vulnerability/27668/ | 2from 2 sources |
| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4768#kerberos-preauthentication-types | 2from 2 sources |
| www.ultimatewindowssecurity.com/securitylog/encyclopedia/event.aspx?eventid=4768 | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- e3ef244e-0a67-11ec-abf2-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Kerberos AttacksPetitPotam NTLM Relay on Active Directory Certificate ServicesEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
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