Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication Disabled

name: Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication Disabled
id: 482dd42a-acfa-486b-a0bb-d6fcda27318e
version: 12
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Mauricio Velazco, Gowthamaraj Rajendran, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects attempts to disable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an Azure AD user. It leverages Azure Active Directory AuditLogs to identify the "Disable Strong Authentication" operation. This activity is significant because disabling MFA can allow adversaries to maintain persistence using compromised accounts without raising suspicion. If confirmed malicious, this action could enable attackers to bypass an essential security control, potentially leading to unauthorized access and prolonged undetected presence in the environment.
data_source:
    - Azure Active Directory Disable Strong Authentication
search: |-
    `azure_monitor_aad` category=AuditLogs operationName="Disable Strong Authentication"
      | rename properties.* as *
      | rename targetResources{}.type as type
      | rename initiatedBy.user.userPrincipalName as initiatedBy
      | rename userAgent as user_agent
      | fillnull
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY dest user src
           vendor_account vendor_product user_agent
           initiatedBy signature
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `azure_ad_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter`
how_to_implement: You must install the latest version of Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Cloud Services from Splunkbase (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/3110/#/details). You must be ingesting Azure Active Directory events into your Splunk environment through an EventHub. This analytic was written to be used with the azure:monitor:aad sourcetype leveraging the AuditLogs log category.
known_false_positives: Legitimate use case may require for users to disable MFA. Filter as needed.
references:
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/concept-mfa-howitworks
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-userstates
    - https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$user$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  user = "$user$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: MFA disabled for User $user$ initiated by $initiatedBy$
    risk_objects:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Azure Active Directory Account Takeover
        - Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters
    asset_type: Azure Active Directory
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1556.006
        - T1586.003
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: identity
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1556/azuread/azure-audit.log
          source: Azure AD
          sourcetype: azure:monitor:aad