Windows SecurityPolicy Change

Event 4703: A user right was adjusted.

A user right was adjusted (enabled or disabled).

Technical Details

Windows Security Source

Event ID: 4703

Windows Security- Policy Change

Event Description

A user right was adjusted (enabled or disabled).

Key Log Fields

  • SubjectUserName - Account that adjusted privileges
  • SubjectDomainName - Domain of the account
  • SubjectLogonId - Logon ID for correlation
  • TargetUserName - Account whose privileges were adjusted
  • TargetDomainName - Domain of the target account
  • TargetSid - SID of the target account
  • PrivilegeList - Privileges that were adjusted
  • ProcessName - Process that made the adjustment

MITRE ATT&CK® Mapping (2)

T1098persistence, privilege-escalation
Account Manipulation

Adversaries may manipulate accounts to maintain and/or elevate access to victim systems. Account manipulation may consist of any action that preserves or modifies adversary access to a compromised account, such as modifying credentials or permission groups.(Citation: FireEye SMOKEDHAM June 2021) These actions could also include account activity designed to subvert security policies, such as performing iterative password updates to bypass password duration policies and preserve the life of compromised credentials. In order to create or manipulate accounts, the adversary must already have sufficient permissions on systems or the domain. However, account manipulation may also lead to privilege escalation where modifications grant access to additional roles, permissions, or higher-privileged [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078).

T1548defense-evasion, privilege-escalation
Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

Adversaries may circumvent mechanisms designed to control elevate privileges to gain higher-level permissions. Most modern systems contain native elevation control mechanisms that are intended to limit privileges that a user can perform on a machine. Authorization has to be granted to specific users in order to perform tasks that can be considered of higher risk.(Citation: TechNet How UAC Works)(Citation: sudo man page 2018) An adversary can perform several methods to take advantage of built-in control mechanisms in order to escalate privileges on a system.(Citation: OSX Keydnap malware)(Citation: Fortinet Fareit)

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