splunk_escuTTP

GCP Multi-Factor Authentication Disabled

The following analytic detects an attempt to disable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) user. It leverages Google Workspace Admin log events, specifically the `UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH` command. This activity is significant because disabling MFA can allow an adversary to maintain persistence within the environment using a compromised account without raising suspicion. If confirmed malicious, this action could enable attackers to bypass additional security layers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised account.

Detection Query

`gws_reports_admin` command=UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH
  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
    BY user, command, actor.email,
       status, id.applicationName, event.name,
       vendor_account, action
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
  | `gcp_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter`

Author

Bhavin Patel, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk

Data Sources

Google Workspace

References

Raw Content

name: GCP Multi-Factor Authentication Disabled
id: b9bc5513-6fc1-4821-85a3-e1d81e451c83
version: 13
creation_date: '2022-10-14'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Bhavin Patel, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects an attempt to disable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) user. It leverages Google Workspace Admin log events, specifically the `UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH` command. This activity is significant because disabling MFA can allow an adversary to maintain persistence within the environment using a compromised account without raising suspicion. If confirmed malicious, this action could enable attackers to bypass additional security layers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised account.
data_source:
    - Google Workspace
search: |-
    `gws_reports_admin` command=UNENROLL_USER_FROM_STRONG_AUTH
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY user, command, actor.email,
           status, id.applicationName, event.name,
           vendor_account, action
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `gcp_multi_factor_authentication_disabled_filter`
how_to_implement: You must install the latest version of Splunk Add-on for Google Workspace from Splunkbase (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/5556) which allows Splunk administrators to collect Google Workspace event data in Splunk using Google Workspace APIs. Specifically, this analytic leverages the Admin log events.
known_false_positives: Legitimate use case may require for users to disable MFA. Filter as needed.
references:
    - https://support.google.com/cloudidentity/answer/2537800?hl=en
    - 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 ("$user$") | 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: 7d
      latest_offset: "0"
finding:
    title: MFA disabled for User $user$ initiated by $actor.email$
    entity:
        field: actor.email
        type: user
        score: 50
intermediate_findings:
    entities:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 50
          message: MFA disabled for User $user$ initiated by $actor.email$
analytic_story:
    - GCP Account Takeover
    - Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters
asset_type: GCP
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1556.006
    - T1586.003
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: 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/gcp_disable_mfa/gws_admin.log
          source: gws:reports:admin
          sourcetype: gws:reports:admin
      test_type: unit