Azure Role Changed PIM

Severity: medium
Group by: p_row_id
Log types: Azure.Audit
Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/overview-authentication
Source: github.com/panther-labs/panther-analysis

This detection looks for a change in member's PIM roles in EntraID

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Tactic	Techniques
Resource Development	`T1586` Compromise Accounts

Rule body yaml

AnalysisType: rule
Filename: azure_role_changed_pim.py
RuleID: "Azure.Audit.RoleChangedPIM"
DisplayName: "Azure Role Changed PIM"
Enabled: true
LogTypes:
  - Azure.Audit
Severity: Medium
DedupPeriodMinutes: 5
Description: >
  This detection looks for a change in member's PIM roles in EntraID
Reports:
  MITRE ATT&CK:
    - TA0042:T1586
Runbook: >
  Verify if the role change was authorized and review the affected user. If unauthorized, revert the role change, notify relevant teams,

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/overview-authentication
SummaryAttributes:
  - properties:ServicePrincipalName
  - properties:UserPrincipalName
  - properties:ipAddress
Tests:
  - Name: Successfully added PIM role
    ExpectedResult: true
    Log:
        {
            "p_row_id": "2316902d-b9a4-4f37-a1a5-5ed03993110f",
            "category": "AuditLogs",
            "correlationId": "1234155",
            "durationMs": 0,
            "identity": "Ju Cho",
            "Level": "4",
            "operationName": "Add member to role in PIM completed (permanent)",
            "operationVersion": "1.0",
            "properties": {
                "activityDateTime": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000",
                "activityDisplayName": "Add member to role in PIM completed (permanent)",
                "additionalDetails": [
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                        "value": "123451235"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                        "value": "BuiltInRole"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "TemplateId",
                        "value": "123412351"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "StartTime",
                        "value": "2024-12-16T16:32:15.8441686Z"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "Justification",
                        "value": "test assign"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "oid",
                        "value": "12351534"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "tid",
                        "value": "345667733"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "wids",
                        "value": "234523454"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "ipaddr",
                        "value": "1.2.3.4"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RequestId",
                        "value": "111111111111"
                    }
                ],
                "category": "RoleManagement",
                "correlationId": "12345",
                "id": "PIM_123415",
                "initiatedBy": {
                    "user": {
                        "displayName": "Ju Cho",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "roles": [],
                        "userPrincipalName": "Radahn@Starscourge.onmicrosoft.com"
                    }
                },
                "loggedByService": "PIM",
                "operationType": "Update",
                "result": "success",
                "resultReason": "test assign",
                "targetResources": [
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Application Administrator",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "modifiedProperties": [
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                                "newValue": "\"12345\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                                "newValue": "\"BuiltInRole\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "TemplateId",
                                "newValue": "\"12345\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            }
                        ],
                        "type": "Role"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Request"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Malenia",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "User"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Panther",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Directory"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Other"
                    }
                ]
            },
            "resourceId": "/tenants/12345/providers/Microsoft.aadiam",
            "resultSignature": "None",
            "tenantId": "12345",
            "time": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000"
        }
  - Name: requested adding PIM role
    ExpectedResult: false
    Log:
        {
            "category": "AuditLogs",
            "correlationId": "1234155",
            "durationMs": 0,
            "identity": "Ju Cho",
            "Level": "4",
            "operationName": "Add member to role in PIM requested (permanent)",
            "operationVersion": "1.0",
            "properties": {
                "activityDateTime": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000",
                "activityDisplayName": "Add member to role in PIM requested (permanent)",
                "additionalDetails": [
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                        "value": "123451235"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                        "value": "BuiltInRole"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "TemplateId",
                        "value": "123412351"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "StartTime",
                        "value": "2024-12-16T16:32:15.8441686Z"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "Justification",
                        "value": "test assign"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "oid",
                        "value": "12351534"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "tid",
                        "value": "345667733"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "wids",
                        "value": "234523454"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "ipaddr",
                        "value": "1.2.3.4"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RequestId",
                        "value": "111111111111"
                    }
                ],
                "category": "RoleManagement",
                "correlationId": "12345",
                "id": "PIM_123415",
                "initiatedBy": {
                    "user": {
                        "displayName": "Ju Cho",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "roles": [],
                        "userPrincipalName": "Radahn@Starscourge.onmicrosoft.com"
                    }
                },
                "loggedByService": "PIM",
                "operationType": "Update",
                "result": "success",
                "resultReason": "test assign",
                "targetResources": [
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Application Administrator",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "modifiedProperties": [
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                                "newValue": "\"12345\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                                "newValue": "\"BuiltInRole\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "TemplateId",
                                "newValue": "\"12345\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            }
                        ],
                        "type": "Role"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Request"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Malenia",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "User"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Panther",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Directory"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Other"
                    }
                ]
            },
            "resourceId": "/tenants/12345/providers/Microsoft.aadiam",
            "resultSignature": "None",
            "tenantId": "12345",
            "time": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000"
        }
  - Name: Add member to role (Non PIM)
    ExpectedResult: false
    Log:
        {
            "category": "AuditLogs",
            "correlationId": "1234155",
            "durationMs": 0,
            "identity": "Ju Cho",
            "Level": "4",
            "operationName": "Add member to role",
            "operationVersion": "1.0",
            "properties": {
                "activityDateTime": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000",
                "activityDisplayName": "Add member to role",
                "additionalDetails": [
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                        "value": "123451235"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                        "value": "BuiltInRole"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "TemplateId",
                        "value": "123412351"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "StartTime",
                        "value": "2024-12-16T16:32:15.8441686Z"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "Justification",
                        "value": "test assign"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "oid",
                        "value": "12351534"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "tid",
                        "value": "345667733"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "wids",
                        "value": "234523454"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "ipaddr",
                        "value": "1.2.3.4"
                    },
                    {
                        "key": "RequestId",
                        "value": "651346123452"
                    }
                ],
                "category": "RoleManagement",
                "correlationId": "12345",
                "id": "PIM_123415",
                "initiatedBy": {
                    "user": {
                        "displayName": "Ju Cho",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "roles": [],
                        "userPrincipalName": "Radahn@Starscourge.onmicrosoft.com"
                    }
                },
                "loggedByService": "PIM",
                "operationType": "Update",
                "result": "success",
                "resultReason": "test assign",
                "targetResources": [
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Application Administrator",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "modifiedProperties": [
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginId",
                                "newValue": "\"12345\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "RoleDefinitionOriginType",
                                "newValue": "\"BuiltInRole\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            },
                            {
                                "displayName": "TemplateId",
                                "newValue": "\"123415\"",
                                "oldValue": "\"\""
                            }
                        ],
                        "type": "Role"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Request"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Malenia",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "User"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "displayName": "Panther",
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Directory"
                    },
                    {
                        "administrativeUnits": [],
                        "id": "12345",
                        "type": "Other"
                    }
                ]
            },
            "resourceId": "/tenants/12345/providers/Microsoft.aadiam",
            "resultSignature": "None",
            "tenantId": "12345",
            "time": "2024-12-16 16:32:16.087554000"
        }

Detection logic

Condition

properties.result eq "success"
operationName contains "Add member to role in PIM completed"

Indicators

Each row is a field, operator, and value that the rule matches. The corpus column counts how many other rules in the catalog look for the same combination: high numbers point to widely-used, community-vetted indicators. Blank or 1 shows that the indicator is specific to this rule.

Field	Kind	Values
`operationName`	contains	`Add member to role in PIM completed`
`properties.result`	eq	`success`

Output fields

Fields the rule emits when it matches. Chronicle authors list these in the outcome block; they appear on the detection and $risk_score drives alerting. Sentinel / Defender XDR rules build them up through project / summarize / extend stages. Sentinel maps these into alert fields via entityMappings and customDetails; Defender XDR custom detections surface them as alert fields directly.

Field	Source
`operationName`
`category`	`properties.category`
`actor_id`	`properties.initiatedBy.user.id`
`actor_upn`	`properties.initiatedBy.user.userPrincipalName`
`source_ip_address`	`properties.initiatedBy.user.ipAddress`
`target_id`	`properties.targetResources.id`
`target_name`	`properties.targetResources.displayName`

`j` / `k`	Scroll down / up
`d` / `u`	Half-page down / up
`gg` / `G`	Top / bottom
`h` / `l`	History back / forward
`f`	Follow link (`Shift` = new tab)
`/`	Focus search
`?`	Toggle this help
`↑` / `↓`	Navigate search results
`Enter`	Open highlighted result
`Esc`	Close results / dialog

`type:`	`events` / `rules` / `providers`
`vendor:`	`sigma` / `elastic` / `splunk` / `kusto` / `chronicle` (vendor name alone also works: `sigma:`, `kql:`, `secops:`…)
`tactic:`	TA-id, slug, or name: `credential_access`, `TA0006`
`technique:`	technique or sub-technique ID: `T1003`, `T1003.001` (alias `tech:`)
`severity:`	`critical` / `high` / `medium` / `low` / `informational` (alias `sev:`)
`risk_score`	Numeric comparison on the Elastic risk score (0 to 100): `risk_score>50`, `risk_score<=20`, `risk_score=99` (alias `risk`; Elastic rules only)
`stages:`	Rules with exactly N pipeline stages
`correlation:`	`single_event` / `sequence` / `alternatives` / `alternatives_cross_log` / `all_required` / `correlated`
`with:`	Co-occurrence event-id; stacks (`with:4624 with:4769`) to require all, while a comma list in one occurrence (`with:4624,4769`) is an either-or group. Implies multi-event
`like:`	Structural neighbors of a rule slug (equivalents + subsumption stricter / broader): `like:comsvcs_lsass_memory_dump-splunk-sysmon`
`groupby:`	Entity-grouping substring match against `group_by_keys`: `groupby:user`, `groupby:host`
`uses:`	Rules whose predicate tree touches the field (any kind, any value): `uses:CommandLine`
`excludes:`	Rules with top-level `not()` clauses on the field (FP whitelists): `excludes:ParentImage`
`field:` / `value:`	Predicate search; narrows rule cards to those with a matching leaf and drives the indicator tier. Unquoted = substring, wildcards allowed (`value:mimikatz`)
`indicator:`	Shorthand for `field:F value:V`: `indicator:Image=*\powershell.exe`
`kind:`	Filter by predicate kind. Narrows rule cards to those carrying a matching predicate leaf (`vendor:elastic kind:cidr_match`) and drives the indicator tier: `contains` / `starts_with` / `ends_with` / `regex` / `cidr` / `eq` / `in` … (operator aliases `op:`/`match:`)
`has:` / `no:`	`sample`, `field`, `notes`, `refs`, `trace`, `thirdparty`, `rule`, `pattern`, `timewindow`, `threshold`, `newterms`, `sigma`/`elastic`/`splunk`/`kusto`/`chronicle`
`-op:val`	Exclude matches; works on most operators but not `type:`/`like:`/`has:`/`no:` (use `no:<flag>` to exclude a rule flag): `tactic:execution -vendor:splunk`. Standalone `-kind:`/`-field:`/`-value:` drop every rule carrying a matching predicate leaf (`type:rules -kind:is_null`)
`field:"…"` / `value:"…"`	Quoted value = anchored exact match (also allows spaces): `value:"net user"`
`a,b`	Comma = OR inside one operator (`vendor:sigma,elastic`, `severity:high,critical`); repeating a facet merges the same way. `field:`/`value:` never split (literal commas)
`vendors:` / `stage:`	Singular and plural spellings fold to the canonical operator and value: `tactics:` = `tactic:`, `type:event` = `type:events`, `correlation:sequences` = `correlation:sequence`, `has:thresholds` = `has:threshold`
`"quoted phrase"`	Exact-match a multi-word phrase (free text)