Credentials Validation Burst (Microsoft Defender for Identity)

# --- Query Metadata ---
# Human-readable name for the query. Will be displayed as the title.
name: Credentials Validation Burst (Microsoft Defender for Identity)

# MITRE ATT&CK technique IDs
mitre_ids:
  - T1110

# Description of what the query does and its purpose.
description: |
  Detects a high volume of authentication or credential validation attempts against Active Directory accounts within a short timeframe. This behavior is commonly associated with automated credential‑testing activity such as password spraying or brute‑force attempts and should be investigated.

# The author or team that created the query.
author: Kundan Kumar

# The required log sources to run this query successfully in Next-Gen SIEM.
log_sources:
  - Identity

# The CrowdStrike modules required to run this query.
cs_required_modules:
  - Identity

# Tags for filtering and categorization.
tags:
  - Detection

# --- Query Content ---
# The actual CrowdStrike Query Language (CQL) code.
# Using the YAML block scalar `|` allows for multi-line strings.
cql: |
  #Vendor = "microsoft"
  | #event.module = "defender-identity"
  | Vendor.category = "AdvancedHunting-IdentityLogonEvents"
  | Vendor.properties.LogonType = "Credentials validation"
  | groupBy([user.name, source.address], function=[count(as=validation_count),count(field=Vendor.properties.DestinationDeviceName, distinct=true, as=unique_destinations),collect(fields=Vendor.properties.DestinationDeviceName),min(@timestamp, as=start_time),max(@timestamp, as=end_time)])
  | validation_count > 50 //Adjust the value as per your enviorment
  | time_diff_min := (end_time - start_time) / 60000
  | time_diff_min <= 10 //Adjust the value as per your enviorment
  | start_time_fmt := formatTime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", field=start_time, timezone="UTC")
  | end_time_fmt := formatTime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", field=end_time, timezone="UTC")
  | drop([start_time, end_time])
  | sort([validation_count], order=desc)

# Explanation of the query.
# Using the YAML block scalar `|` allows for multi-line strings.
# Uses markdown for formatting on the webpage.
explanation: |
  Detects a high volume of authentication or credential validation attempts against Active Directory accounts within a short timeframe. This behavior is commonly associated with automated credential‑testing activity such as password spraying or brute‑force attempts and should be investigated.