Windows Account Access Removal via Logoff Exec

SPLUNK detection rule by Teoderick Contreras, Splunk · Apache-2.0

The following analytic detects the process of logging off a user through the use of the quser and logoff commands. By monitoring for these commands, the analytic identifies actions where a user session is forcibly terminated, which could be part of an administrative task or a potentially unauthorized access attempt. This detection helps identify potential misuse or malicious activity where a user’s access is revoked without proper authorization, providing insight into potential security incidents involving account management or session manipulation.

name: Windows Account Access Removal via Logoff Exec
id: 223572ab-8768-4e20-9b39-c38707af80dc
version: 9
creation_date: '2024-12-13'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: "The following analytic detects the process of logging off a user through the use of the quser and logoff commands. By monitoring for these commands, the analytic identifies actions where a user session is forcibly terminated, which could be part of an administrative task or a potentially unauthorized access attempt. This detection helps identify potential misuse or malicious activity where a user’s access is revoked without proper authorization, providing insight into potential security incidents involving account management or session manipulation."
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes
      WHERE Processes.process_name = logoff.exe Processes.parent_process_name IN ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe")
      BY Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name
         Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid
         Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path
         Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid
         Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
         Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user
         Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
    | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `windows_account_access_removal_via_logoff_exec_filter`
how_to_implement: The following Hunting analytic requires PowerShell operational logs to be imported. Modify the powershell macro as needed to match the sourcetype or add index. This analytic is specific to 4104, or PowerShell Script Block Logging.
known_false_positives: Administrators or power users may use this command.
references:
    - https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/automating-quser-through-powershell/
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 ("$dest$") | 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"
intermediate_findings:
    entities:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 20
          message: Process having child process [$process_name$] used to logoff user on [$dest$].
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 20
          message: Process having child process [$process_name$] used to logoff user on [$dest$].
analytic_story:
    - Crypto Stealer
asset_type: Endpoint
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1059.001
    - T1531
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: endpoint
security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1531/powershell_log_process_tree/powershell_logoff.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
      test_type: unit

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c78cd3c2-3b85-43ff-af17-bce9d1af57b8

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Executable code, not a declarative rule

This submission is arbitrary [[ currentRule.format ? currentRule.format.toUpperCase() : '' ]] code, not a declarative detection rule — review it as you would any script before running it, and note that it cannot be safely aggregated or auto-executed alongside YARA/Sigma/Suricata/CRS rules.

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