Windows Default Domain GPO Modification

experimentalmedium
log source: windows · securityauthor Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)date 2025-11-22
01

description

What this is, in brief.

Detects modifications to Default Domain or Default Domain Controllers Group Policy Objects (GPOs). Adversaries may modify these default GPOs to deploy malicious configurations across the domain.

02

tags

attack.privilege-escalationattack.defense-impairmentattack.t1484.001
03

rule source (YAML)

title: Windows Default Domain GPO Modification
id: e5ac86dd-2da1-454b-be74-05d26c769d7d
related:
    - id: dcff7e85-d01f-4eb5-badd-84e2e6be8294
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects modifications to Default Domain or Default Domain Controllers Group Policy Objects (GPOs).
    Adversaries may modify these default GPOs to deploy malicious configurations across the domain.
references:
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/i/unmasking-the-gentlemen-ransomware.html
    - https://adsecurity.org/?p=3377
    - https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/living-off-the-land-gpo-style/
    - https://jgspiers.com/audit-group-policy-changes/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-11-22
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1484.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: |
        Enable 'Audit Directory Service Changes' in the Default Domain Controllers Policy under:
        Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Advanced Audit Policy Configuration -> Audit Policies -> DS Access -> Audit Directory Service Changes (Success).
        Additionally, proper SACL needs to be configured on the 'CN=Policies,CN=System,DC=<domain>,DC=<tld>' container in Active Directory to capture changes to Group Policy Objects.
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 5136
        ObjectClass: 'groupPolicyContainer'
        ObjectDN|startswith:
            - 'CN={31B2F340-016D-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9},CN=POLICIES,CN=SYSTEM' # Default Domain Policy
            - 'CN={6AC1786C-016F-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9},CN=POLICIES,CN=SYSTEM' # Default Domain Controllers Policy
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate modifications to Default Domain or Default Domain Controllers GPOs
level: medium
04

detects techniques (1)

ATT&CK techniques this enables or maps to.

05

references

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.