Creation or Modification of Domain Backup DPAPI private key

[metadata]
creation_date = "2020/08/13"
integration = ["endpoint", "windows", "sentinel_one_cloud_funnel", "m365_defender", "crowdstrike"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/03/30"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
Identifies the creation or modification of Domain Backup private keys. Adversaries may extract the Data Protection API
(DPAPI) domain backup key from a Domain Controller (DC) to be able to decrypt any domain user master key file.
"""
from = "now-9m"
index = [
    "winlogbeat-*",
    "logs-endpoint.events.file-*",
    "logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*",
    "endgame-*",
    "logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*",
    "logs-m365_defender.event-*",
    "logs-crowdstrike.fdr*",
]
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Creation or Modification of Domain Backup DPAPI private key"
note = """## Triage and analysis

Domain DPAPI Backup keys are stored on domain controllers and can be dumped remotely with tools such as Mimikatz. The resulting .pvk private key can be used to decrypt ANY domain user masterkeys, which then can be used to decrypt any secrets protected by those keys.
"""
references = [
    "https://www.dsinternals.com/en/retrieving-dpapi-backup-keys-from-active-directory/",
    "https://posts.specterops.io/operational-guidance-for-offensive-user-dpapi-abuse-1fb7fac8b107",
]
risk_score = 73
rule_id = "b83a7e96-2eb3-4edf-8346-427b6858d3bd"
severity = "high"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Credential Access",
    "Data Source: Elastic Endgame",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
    "Data Source: Sysmon",
    "Data Source: SentinelOne",
    "Data Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint",
    "Data Source: Crowdstrike",
    "Resources: Investigation Guide",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
file where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type != "deletion" and file.name : ("ntds_capi_*.pfx", "ntds_capi_*.pvk")
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1003"
name = "OS Credential Dumping"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1003.003"
name = "NTDS"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/003/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1552"
name = "Unsecured Credentials"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1552.004"
name = "Private Keys"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/004/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1555"
name = "Credentials from Password Stores"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0006"
name = "Credential Access"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/"