Suspicious Kerberos Service Ticket Request
The following analytic detects suspicious Kerberos Service Ticket (TGS) requests where the requesting account name matches the service name, potentially indicating an exploitation attempt of CVE-2021-42278 and…
Description
The following analytic detects suspicious Kerberos Service Ticket (TGS) requests where the requesting account name matches the service name, potentially indicating an exploitation attempt of CVE-2021-42278 and CVE-2021-42287. This detection leverages Event ID 4769 from Domain Controller and Kerberos events. Such activity is significant as it may represent an adversary attempting to escalate privileges by impersonating a domain controller. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to take control of the domain controller, leading to complete domain compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- windows_event_log_security_4769
Known benign triggers
- We have tested this detection logic with ~2 million 4769 events and did not identify false positives. However, they may be possible in certain environments. 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 |
|---|---|
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-sfu/02636893-7a1f-4357-af9a-b672e3e3de13 | Only this detection cites it |
| exploit.ph/cve-2021-42287-cve-2021-42278-weaponisation.html | 4from 2 sources |
| msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42278 | 3 |
| msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42287 | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 8b1297bc-6204-11ec-b7c4-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Kerberos AttacksActive Directory Privilege EscalationsAMAccountName Spoofing and Domain Controller ImpersonationEndpointendpointSplunk 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