splunk_escuAnomaly

GitHub Organizations Repository Deleted

The following analytic identifies when a repository is deleted within a GitHub organization. The detection monitors GitHub Organizations audit logs for repository deletion events by tracking actor details, repository information, and associated metadata. This behavior is concerning for SOC teams as malicious actors may attempt to delete repositories to destroy source code, intellectual property, or evidence of compromise. Repository deletion can result in permanent loss of code, documentation, and project history if proper backups are not maintained. Additionally, unauthorized repository deletion could indicate account compromise, insider threats, or attempts to disrupt business operations. The impact of a repository deletion attack includes loss of intellectual property, disruption to development workflows, and potential financial losses from lost work. Early detection of unauthorized repository deletions allows security teams to investigate potential compromises and restore from backups if needed.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1485 T1195

Detection Query

`github_organizations` vendor_action=repo.destroy
  | fillnull
  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
    BY actor, actor_id, actor_is_bot,
       actor_location.country_code, business, business_id,
       org, org_id, repo,
       repo_id, user_agent, visibility,
       vendor_action
  | eval user=actor
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
  | `github_organizations_repository_deleted_filter`

Author

Patrick Bareiss, Splunk

Created

2026-03-10

Data Sources

GitHub Organizations Audit Logs

References

Tags

GitHub Malicious ActivityNPM Supply Chain Compromise

Raw Content

name: GitHub Organizations Repository Deleted
id: 9ff4ca95-fdae-4eea-9ffa-6d8e1c202a71
version: 7
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Patrick Bareiss, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic identifies when a repository is deleted within a GitHub organization. The detection monitors GitHub Organizations audit logs for repository deletion events by tracking actor details, repository information, and associated metadata. This behavior is concerning for SOC teams as malicious actors may attempt to delete repositories to destroy source code, intellectual property, or evidence of compromise. Repository deletion can result in permanent loss of code, documentation, and project history if proper backups are not maintained. Additionally, unauthorized repository deletion could indicate account compromise, insider threats, or attempts to disrupt business operations. The impact of a repository deletion attack includes loss of intellectual property, disruption to development workflows, and potential financial losses from lost work. Early detection of unauthorized repository deletions allows security teams to investigate potential compromises and restore from backups if needed.
data_source:
    - GitHub Organizations Audit Logs
search: |-
    `github_organizations` vendor_action=repo.destroy
      | fillnull
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY actor, actor_id, actor_is_bot,
           actor_location.country_code, business, business_id,
           org, org_id, repo,
           repo_id, user_agent, visibility,
           vendor_action
      | eval user=actor
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `github_organizations_repository_deleted_filter`
how_to_implement: You must ingest GitHub Organizations logs using Splunk Add-on for Github using a Personal Access Token https://splunk.github.io/splunk-add-on-for-github-audit-log-monitoring/Install/ .
known_false_positives: No false positives have been identified at this time.
references:
    - https://splunk.github.io/splunk-add-on-for-github-audit-log-monitoring/Install/
    - https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Community-Blog/Monitoring-for-Suspicious-GitHub-Activity-with-Google-Security/ba-p/763610
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: $user$ deleted a repository in GitHub Organizations
    risk_objects:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 20
    threat_objects:
        - field: user_agent
          type: http_user_agent
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - GitHub Malicious Activity
        - NPM Supply Chain Compromise
    asset_type: GitHub
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1485
        - T1195
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: network
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1485/github_delete_repository/github.json
          source: github
          sourcetype: github:cloud:audit