Azure Storage Azure-Microsoft.Storage

8 operations, identified by operationName in the audit log.

operationNameDescription
_catch_allCatch-all for Azure-Microsoft.Storage rules matching the resource provider but no specific operation.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/manageOwnership/actionChanges the ownership of a blob in a storage account container (Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 POSIX-style ACL).
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/modifyPermissions/actionModifies the POSIX permissions of a blob in an ADLS Gen2 container.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/writeCreates or updates a blob container within a storage account, including access level and metadata.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/deleteDeletes a storage account and all its data; used in destructive attacks or data-destruction scenarios.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/listKeys/actionRetrieves the access keys for a storage account, granting full data-plane access; a high-value credential-harvesting operation.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/regenerateKey/actionRegenerates an access key for a storage account, rotating credentials or locking out legitimate key holders.
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/writeCreates or updates a storage account, including configuration of network rules, encryption, and access tiers.

_catch_all: Azure Storage (catch-all)

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Catch-all for Azure-Microsoft.Storage rules matching the resource provider but no specific operation.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/manageOwnership/action

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Changes the ownership of a blob in a storage account container (Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 POSIX-style ACL).

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/modifyPermissions/action

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Modifies the POSIX permissions of a blob in an ADLS Gen2 container.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/write

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Creates or updates a blob container within a storage account, including access level and metadata.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

  • Azure Blob Storage Container Access Level Modified source low: Identifies changes to container access levels in Azure. Anonymous public read access to containers and blobs in Azure is a way to share data broadly, but can present a security risk if access to sensitive data is not managed judiciously.

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/delete

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Deletes a storage account and all its data; used in destructive attacks or data-destruction scenarios.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Common Indicators #

Field/value combinations most frequently checked by detection rules targeting this event, derived from cross-vendor predicate analysis.

FieldKindValueRulesVendors
azure.activitylogs.identity.claims_initiated_by_user.nameis_not_null2 ruleselastic
azure.activitylogs.operation_nameeqMICROSOFT.STORAGE/STORAGEACCOUNTS/DELETE2 ruleselastic

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

  • Azure Storage Account Deletion by Unusual User source medium: Identifies when an Azure Storage Account is deleted. Adversaries may delete storage accounts to disrupt operations, destroy evidence, or cause denial of service. This activity could indicate an attacker attempting to cover their tracks after data exfiltration or as part of a destructive attack. Monitoring storage account deletions is critical for detecting potential impact on business operations and data availability.
  • Azure Storage Account Deletions by User source high: Identifies when a single user or service principal deletes multiple Azure Storage Accounts within a short time period. This behavior may indicate an adversary attempting to cause widespread service disruption, destroy evidence, or execute a destructive attack such as ransomware. Mass deletion of storage accounts can have severe business impact and is rarely performed by legitimate administrators except during controlled decommissioning activities.

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/listKeys/action

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Retrieves the access keys for a storage account, granting full data-plane access; a high-value credential-harvesting operation.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Common Indicators #

Field/value combinations most frequently checked by detection rules targeting this event, derived from cross-vendor predicate analysis.

FieldKindValueRulesVendors
ActivityStatusValueeqSuccess2 ruleskusto
azure.activitylogs.identity.authorization.evidence.principal_typeeqUser1 ruleelastic
count_ge51 rulekusto

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

  • Azure Storage Account Keys Accessed by Privileged User source medium: Identifies unusual high-privileged access to Azure Storage Account keys by users with Owner, Contributor, or Storage Account Contributor roles. This technique was observed in STORM-0501 ransomware campaigns where compromised identities with high-privilege Azure RBAC roles retrieved access keys to perform unauthorized operations on Storage Accounts. Microsoft recommends using Shared Access Signature (SAS) models instead of direct key access for improved security. This rule detects when a user principal with high-privilege roles accesses storage keys for the first time in 7 days.

Kusto #

  • New CloudShell User source low: Identifies when a user creates an Azure CloudShell for the first time. Monitor this activity to ensure only the expected users are using CloudShell.↳ also matches Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/write
  • Rare subscription-level operations in Azure source low: This query looks for a few sensitive subscription-level events based on Azure Activity Logs. For example, this monitors for the operation name 'Create or Update Snapshot', which is used for creating backups but could be misused by attackers to dump hashes or extract sensitive information from the disk.

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/regenerateKey/action

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Regenerates an access key for a storage account, rotating credentials or locking out legitimate key holders.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Common Indicators #

Field/value combinations most frequently checked by detection rules targeting this event, derived from cross-vendor predicate analysis.

FieldKindValueRulesVendors
event.outcomeinSuccess1 ruleelastic
event.outcomeinsuccess1 ruleelastic

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

  • Azure Storage Account Key Regenerated source low: Identifies a rotation to storage account access keys in Azure. Regenerating access keys can affect any applications or Azure services that are dependent on the storage account key. Adversaries may regenerate a key as a means of acquiring credentials to access systems and resources.

References #

Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/write

#
Resource provider
Azure-Microsoft.Storage

Description

Creates or updates a storage account, including configuration of network rules, encryption, and access tiers.

Fields #

NameDescription
OperationNameLocalized display name of the ARM operation. Sentinel also exposes OperationNameValue (the uppercase ARM operation string the catalog keys on).
OperationNameValueThe ARM operation string (e.g. MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/VIRTUALMACHINES/WRITE). The per-event discriminator; case-insensitive.
ResourceProviderThe Azure resource-provider namespace (e.g. Microsoft.Compute).
ResourceIdFull ARM resource id the operation acted on.
CallerIdentity that initiated the operation (UPN, object id, or service principal).
CallerIpAddressIP address of the caller.
ActivityStatusValueOperation status (Started, Succeeded, Failed, Accepted).
LevelSeverity level of the activity record (Informational, Warning, Error, Critical).
AuthorizationRBAC authorization context: the action evaluated, scope, and role assignment.
PropertiesOperation-specific properties bag; shape varies by operation.
SubscriptionIdGUID of the subscription the resource belongs to.
TimeGeneratedUTC timestamp when the event was recorded.

Common Indicators #

Field/value combinations most frequently checked by detection rules targeting this event, derived from cross-vendor predicate analysis.

FieldKindValueRulesVendors
ActivityStatusValueeqSuccess1 rulekusto

Detection Rules #

View all rules referencing this event →

Elastic #

  • Azure Storage Account Blob Public Access Enabled source medium: Identifies when Azure Storage Account Blob public access is enabled, allowing external access to blob containers. This technique was observed in cloud ransom-based campaigns where threat actors modified storage accounts to expose non-remotely accessible accounts to the internet for data exfiltration. Adversaries abuse the Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/write operation to modify public access settings.

Kusto #

References #