Short Lived Windows Accounts
The following analytic detects the rapid creation and deletion of Windows accounts within a short time frame of 1 hour. It leverages the "Change" data model in Splunk, specifically monitoring events with result IDs…
Description
The following analytic detects the rapid creation and deletion of Windows accounts within a short time frame of 1 hour. It leverages the "Change" data model in Splunk, specifically monitoring events with result IDs 4720 (account creation) and 4726 (account deletion). This behavior is significant as it may indicate an attacker attempting to create and remove accounts quickly to evade detection or gain unauthorized access. If confirmed malicious, this activity could lead to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, or further malicious actions within the environment. Immediate investigation of flagged events is crucial to mitigate potential damage.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- windows_event_log_system_4720windows_event_log_system_4726
Known benign triggers
- It is possible that an administrator created and deleted an account in a short time period. Verifying activity with an administrator is advised.
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/ | 8from 2 sources |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1136.001/T1136.001.yaml#L68 | 6 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1136.001/T1136.001.yaml#L91 | 6 |
| www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Cd-KK4ctk | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- b25f6f62-0782-43c1-b403-083231ffd97d
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Lateral MovementGhostRedirector IIS Module and Rungan BackdoorWindowsendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityaccess
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 2