splunk_escuTTP

Windows Computer Account Requesting Kerberos Ticket

The following analytic detects a computer account requesting a Kerberos ticket, which is unusual as typically user accounts request these tickets. This detection leverages Windows Security Event Logs, specifically EventCode 4768, to identify instances where the TargetUserName ends with a dollar sign ($), indicating a computer account. This activity is significant because it may indicate the use of tools like KrbUpRelay or other Kerberos-based attacks. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to impersonate computer accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized access and lateral movement within the network.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1558

Detection Query

`wineventlog_security`  EventCode=4768 TargetUserName="*$"  src_ip!="::1"
  | stats  count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
    BY dest, subject, action,
       user, TargetUserName, src_ip
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
  | `windows_computer_account_requesting_kerberos_ticket_filter`

Author

Michael Haag, Splunk

Created

2026-03-10

Data Sources

Windows Event Log Security 4768

References

https://github.com/Dec0ne/KrbRelayUp

Tags

Active Directory Kerberos AttacksLocal Privilege Escalation With KrbRelayUp

Raw Content

name: Windows Computer Account Requesting Kerberos Ticket
id: fb3b2bb3-75a4-4279-848a-165b42624770
version: 8
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects a computer account requesting a Kerberos ticket, which is unusual as typically user accounts request these tickets. This detection leverages Windows Security Event Logs, specifically EventCode 4768, to identify instances where the TargetUserName ends with a dollar sign ($), indicating a computer account. This activity is significant because it may indicate the use of tools like KrbUpRelay or other Kerberos-based attacks. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to impersonate computer accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized access and lateral movement within the network.
data_source:
    - Windows Event Log Security 4768
search: |-
    `wineventlog_security`  EventCode=4768 TargetUserName="*$"  src_ip!="::1"
      | stats  count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY dest, subject, action,
           user, TargetUserName, src_ip
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `windows_computer_account_requesting_kerberos_ticket_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 4768 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA is also required.
known_false_positives: It is possible false positives will be present based on third party applications. Filtering may be needed.
references:
    - https://github.com/Dec0ne/KrbRelayUp
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") 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: A Computer Account requested a Kerberos ticket on $dest$, possibly indicative of Kerberos relay attack.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Active Directory Kerberos Attacks
        - Local Privilege Escalation With KrbRelayUp
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1558
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1558/windows_computer_account_requesting_kerberos_ticket/windows-xml.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Security
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog