ManageEngine ADAudit Plus

Overview

ManageEngine ADAudit Plus is a robust Active Directory auditing and compliance solution, empowering organizations to track and monitor changes, detect security threats, and ensure regulatory compliance within their Active Directory environment.

Supported events

This integration supports the following events from ADAudit Plus:

Alerts (ADAPAlerts)
Group managements reports (GroupMgmtReports)
User managements reports (UserMgmtReports)
Logon reports (LogonReports)
Audit reports (DNSAuditReports and ADObjectsAuditReports)

Configure

Prerequisites

An internal log concentrator is required to collect and forward events to Sekoia.io.

Enable Syslog forwarding

In the ADAudit Plus console:

Click on 'Admin' Tab → 'SIEM Integration'.
Check the 'Enable forwarding of ADAudit Plus Data' checkbox
Choose the 'ArcSight (CEF)' radio button.
Enter the log concentrator server name.
Enter the log concentrator port number and protocol.
Save the configuration
After saving this configuration, Choose the categories to forward.

Create the intake

Go to the intake page and create a new intake from the format ManageEngine ADAuditPlus.

Forward logs to Sekoia.io

Please consult the Syslog Forwarding documentation to forward these logs to Sekoia.io.

The following Sekoia.io built-in rules match the intake ManageEngine ADAudit Plus. This documentation is updated automatically and is based solely on the fields used by the intake which are checked against our rules. This means that some rules will be listed but might not be relevant with the intake.

SEKOIA.IO x ManageEngine ADAudit Plus on ATT&CK Navigator

Cron Files Alteration

Cron Files and Cron Directory alteration used by attacker for persistency or privilege escalation.

Effort: advanced

NTDS.dit File In Suspicious Directory

The file NTDS.dit is supposed to be located mainly in C:\Windows\NTDS. The rule checks whether the file is in a legitimate directory or not (through file creation events). This is usually really suspicious and could indicate an attacker trying copy the file to then look for users password hashes.

Effort: advanced

OneNote Embedded File

Detects creation or uses of OneNote embedded files with unusual extensions.

Effort: intermediate

Package Manager Alteration

Package manager (eg: apt, yum) can be altered to install malicious software

Effort: advanced

RTLO Character

Detects RTLO (Right-To-Left character) in file and process names.

Effort: elementary

SEKOIA.IO Intelligence Feed

Detect threats based on indicators of compromise (IOCs) collected by SEKOIA's Threat and Detection Research team.

Effort: elementary

SSH Authorized Key Alteration

The file authorized_keys is used by SSH server to identify SSH keys that are authorized to connect to the host, alteration of one of those files might indicate a user compromision.

Effort: advanced

WCE wceaux.dll Creation

Detects wceaux.dll creation while Windows Credentials Editor (WCE) is executed.

Effort: intermediate

Webshell Creation

Detects possible webshell file creation. It requires File Creation monitoring, which can be done using Sysmon's Event ID 11. However the recommended SwiftOnSecurity configuration does not fully cover the needs for this rule, it needs to be updated with the proper file names extensions.

Effort: master

Event Categories

The following table lists the data source offered by this integration.

Data Source	Description
`Authentication logs`	None
`File monitoring`	None
`Network device configuration`	None

In details, the following table denotes the type of events produced by this integration.

Name	Values
Kind	`alert`
Category	`authentication`, `configuration`, `file`, `iam`, `network`
Type	`change`, `info`, `start`

Event Samples

Find below few samples of events and how they are normalized by Sekoia.io.

test_alert_failed_auth.jsontest_alert_iam_change_group.jsontest_audit_conf_change.jsontest_audit_conf_change_2.jsontest_iam_change_group.jsontest_iam_change_user.jsontest_iam_change_user_password.jsontest_logon_failure.jsontest_logon_success.json

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|ADAPAlerts|1|cat=ADAPAlerts cn3=7054 cs4=Unusual Activity -Logon Failure Count (Based on Host)  cs1=AD Analytics cs5=2 rt=1694682115000 msg=10+ number of Logon Failure Activity occured on SERVER02.example.org within 11AM - 12PM. Usual average is 0, Threshold calculated is 10. Anomaly category:Unusual Activity -Logon Failure Count (Based on Host)  cs3=User Behaviour Analytics sntdom=example.org",
    "event": {
        "dataset": "ADAPAlerts",
        "kind": "alert",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "reason": "10+ number of Logon Failure Activity occured on SERVER02.example.org within 11AM - 12PM. Usual average is 0, Threshold calculated is 10. Anomaly category:Unusual Activity -Logon Failure Count (Based on Host)",
        "severity": 1
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T09:01:55Z",
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "User Behaviour Analytics",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "User Behaviour Analytics"
        ]
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|ADAPAlerts|1|cat=ADAPAlerts cn3=119667 cs4=Group Membership Changes cs1=Security Group Membership Changes cs5=2 rt=1694682147000 msg=Member 'CN\\=JaneDoe,OU\\=UTILISATEURS,DC\\=example,DC\\=org' was added to Global Security Group 'MyGROUP' by 'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE'. cs3=SERVER02.example.org sntdom=example.org",
    "event": {
        "dataset": "ADAPAlerts",
        "kind": "alert",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "reason": "Member 'CN\\=JaneDoe,OU\\=UTILISATEURS,DC\\=example,DC\\=org' was added to Global Security Group 'MyGROUP' by 'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE'.",
        "severity": 1
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T09:02:27Z",
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ]
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|ADObjectsAuditReports|1|cat=ADObjectsAuditReports cs1=Configuration Changes cn1=1234 rt=1694681920000 outcome=Success cs3=SERVER02.example.org reason=Write Property : msExchOAB duser=Default Offline Address Book cs4=null suser=JDX2093$ type=msExchOAB msg=msExchOAB 'Default Offline Address Book' was modified by 'EXAMPLE\\JDX2093$'.  Modified Properties : ms-Exch-OAB-Last-Number-Of-Records. Value : 7970 cn2=1234567890 suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444 sntdom=example.org",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "configuration"
        ],
        "dataset": "ADObjectsAuditReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Success",
        "reason": "msExchOAB 'Default Offline Address Book' was modified by 'EXAMPLE\\JDX2093$'.  Modified Properties : ms-Exch-OAB-Last-Number-Of-Records. Value : 7970",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "change"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T08:58:40Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Success"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "user": [
            "JDX2093$"
        ]
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "JDX2093$",
        "target": {
            "name": "Default Offline Address Book"
        }
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|DNSAuditReports|1|cat=DNSAuditReports cs1=DNS Permission Changes cn1=1234 rt=1694681538000 outcome=Success cs3=SERVER02.example.org reason=No changes on the Security Descriptor duser=119251-P10 suser=SYSTEM msg=dnsNode (null)  '119251-P10'was modified by 'NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM'. Modified Properties : NT-Security-Descriptor cn2=1234567890 suid=S-1-5-18 sntdom=example.org",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "configuration"
        ],
        "dataset": "DNSAuditReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Success",
        "reason": "dnsNode (null)  '119251-P10'was modified by 'NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM'. Modified Properties : NT-Security-Descriptor",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "change"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T08:52:18Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Success"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "user": [
            "SYSTEM"
        ]
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-18",
        "name": "SYSTEM",
        "target": {
            "name": "119251-P10"
        }
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|GroupMgmtReports|1|cat=GroupMgmtReports cs1=Group Attributes Changed cs3=SERVER02.example.org type=member msg=Group 'MyGROUP' was modified by  'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE' Modified Properties : member, Values : CN\\=JANEDOE,OU\\=USERS,DC\\=example,DC\\=org rt=1694682151000 duser=MyGROUP sntdom=example.org duid=%{S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555} suser=J_DOE cn1=1234 reason=Group Attribute Added cn2=1234567890 suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "iam"
        ],
        "dataset": "GroupMgmtReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "reason": "Group 'MyGROUP' was modified by  'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE' Modified Properties : member, Values : CN\\=JANEDOE,OU\\=USERS,DC\\=example,DC\\=org",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "change"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T09:02:31Z",
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "user": [
            "J_DOE"
        ]
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "J_DOE",
        "target": {
            "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555",
            "name": "MyGROUP"
        }
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|UserMgmtReports|1|cat=UserMgmtReports cs1=User Attributes Changed type=primaryGroupID rt=1694682151000 msg=User 'JaneDoe' was modified by  'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE' Modified Properties : primaryGroupID, Values : 513 duser=JaneDoe sntdom=example.org duid=%{S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555} suser=J_DOE cs3=SERVER02.example.org cn1=1234 reason=User Modified outcome=Success cn2=1234567890 suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "iam"
        ],
        "dataset": "UserMgmtReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Success",
        "reason": "User 'JaneDoe' was modified by  'EXAMPLE\\J_DOE' Modified Properties : primaryGroupID, Values : 513",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "change"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T09:02:31Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Success"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "user": [
            "J_DOE"
        ]
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "J_DOE",
        "target": {
            "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555",
            "name": "JaneDoe"
        }
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|UserMgmtReports|1|cat=UserMgmtReports cs1=Password Changed Users type=Change Password Attempt rt=1694681589000 msg=Change Password Attempt by user 'J_DOE'. Status:Failure' duser=J_DOE sntdom=EXAMPLE duid=%{S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555} suser=J_DOE cs3=SERVER02.example.org cn1=1234 reason=Change Password Attempt outcome=Failure cn2=1234567890 suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "iam"
        ],
        "dataset": "UserMgmtReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Failure",
        "reason": "Change Password Attempt by user 'J_DOE'. Status:Failure'",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "change"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T08:53:09Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Failure"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "user": [
            "J_DOE"
        ]
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "J_DOE",
        "target": {
            "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-55555",
            "name": "J_DOE"
        }
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|LogonReports|1|cat=LogonReports cs1=All Users Logon suser=johndoe cs2=1.2.3.4 shost=1.2.3.4 rt=1694681391000 cn2=1234567890 outcome=Failure sntdom=example.org cs3=SERVER02.example.org suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444 reason=Bad password cn1=1234 msg=Kerberos pre-authentication failed.",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "authentication"
        ],
        "dataset": "LogonReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Failure",
        "reason": "Kerberos pre-authentication failed.",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "start"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T08:49:51Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Failure"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "ip": [
            "1.2.3.4"
        ],
        "user": [
            "johndoe"
        ]
    },
    "source": {
        "address": "1.2.3.4",
        "ip": "1.2.3.4"
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "johndoe"
    }
}

{
    "message": "0|ManageEngine|ADAuditPlus|1|EventLog|LogonReports|1|cat=LogonReports cs1=All Users Logon suser=johndoe cs2=1.2.3.4 shost=LAPTOP234.example.org rt=1694682196000 cn2=1234567890 outcome=Success sntdom=example.org cs3=SERVER02.example.org suid=S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444 reason=- cn1=1234 msg=A Kerberos authentication ticket (TGT) was requested.",
    "event": {
        "category": [
            "authentication"
        ],
        "dataset": "LogonReports",
        "module": "EventLog",
        "outcome": "Success",
        "reason": "A Kerberos authentication ticket (TGT) was requested.",
        "severity": 1,
        "type": [
            "start"
        ]
    },
    "@timestamp": "2023-09-14T09:03:16Z",
    "action": {
        "outcome": "Success"
    },
    "observer": {
        "hostname": "SERVER02.example.org",
        "product": "ADAuditPlus",
        "vendor": "ManageEngine",
        "version": "1"
    },
    "related": {
        "hosts": [
            "SERVER02.example.org"
        ],
        "ip": [
            "1.2.3.4"
        ],
        "user": [
            "johndoe"
        ]
    },
    "source": {
        "address": "LAPTOP234.example.org",
        "ip": "1.2.3.4"
    },
    "user": {
        "id": "S-1-5-21-111111111-2222222222-3333333333-44444",
        "name": "johndoe"
    }
}

Extracted Fields

The following table lists the fields that are extracted, normalized under the ECS format, analyzed and indexed by the parser. It should be noted that infered fields are not listed.

Name	Type	Description
`@timestamp`	`date`	Date/time when the event originated.
`event.category`	`keyword`	Event category. The second categorization field in the hierarchy.
`event.dataset`	`keyword`	Name of the dataset.
`event.kind`	`keyword`	The kind of the event. The highest categorization field in the hierarchy.
`event.module`	`keyword`	Name of the module this data is coming from.
`event.reason`	`keyword`	Reason why this event happened, according to the source
`event.severity`	`long`	Numeric severity of the event.
`event.type`	`keyword`	Event type. The third categorization field in the hierarchy.
`file.name`	`keyword`	Name of the file including the extension, without the directory.
`file.path`	`keyword`	Full path to the file, including the file name.
`observer.hostname`	`keyword`	Hostname of the observer.
`observer.product`	`keyword`	The product name of the observer.
`observer.vendor`	`keyword`	Vendor name of the observer.
`observer.version`	`keyword`	Observer version.
`source.address`	`keyword`	Source network address.
`source.ip`	`ip`	IP address of the source.
`user.id`	`keyword`	Unique identifier of the user.
`user.name`	`keyword`	Short name or login of the user.
`user.target.id`	`keyword`	Unique identifier of the user.
`user.target.name`	`keyword`	Short name or login of the user.