CTD-000155

Unusual device wipe activity

High
Entra ID Intune
Impact
v19

Signature Identity

CTD-000155
Threat ID
19
Version
IOC
Indicator Type

Threat Description

Bulk device wipes executed within a short time frame pose a serious threat to an organization's devices and data integrity. If an attacker gains access to administrative credentials, they could carry out large-scale wipes to eliminate evidence or disrupt business operations. This rule identifies instances where more than N device wipe or reset actions occur within a default 10-minute window (with both the value of N defaulting to 3 and the time interval set in the threat settings). Such activity is unusual and may indicate a coordinated attack targeting multiple devices.

If a threat actor gains access to administrative credentials, they could initiate multiple device wipes at the same time, resulting in significant data loss and operational disruption. In this situation, the malicious actor can erase several devices simultaneously, complicating efforts to recover data or track their activities. Early detection of bulk device wipes is crucial, as it minimizes the potential for widespread impact. This allows security teams to intervene and mitigate the damage before it spreads throughout the network.

NOTE: This threat rule includes a built-in lookback parameter set to 25 hours. Only events that occurred within this timeframe are processed by the rule.

MITRE ATT&CK: Attack Tactics

Impact

D3FEND: Defend Tactics

D3-DKP Disk Partitioning

Remediation

  1. Review the Intune Device Management Logs to identify the user who initiated the bulk device wipes.
  2. Cross-reference these logs with Sign-In Logs in Entra ID to spot any abnormal login behavior, such as unusual locations or devices.
  3. If a suspicious user is identified, temporarily suspend their account to prevent further actions.
  4. Verify the compliance status of any affected devices and block them as needed until the situation is thoroughly investigated.
  5. Conduct an audit of all administrative accounts in Intune to ensure that only trusted personnel have wipe/reset privileges.
  6. Review the Intune Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) settings to verify permissions.
  7. If necessary, temporarily disable the ability to initiate device wipes until the threat is mitigated.
  8. Monitor Intune Device Management Logs to check for ongoing or attempted wipe/reset requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Unusual device wipe activity mean?

Unusual device wipe activity refers to multiple device wipes or resets occurring within a short time frame. This can be caused by a legitimate user error or an attacker with administrative credentials attempting to erase evidence or disrupt business operations.

Unusual device wipe activity is rated high severity because it allows attackers to delete audit logs, making it difficult to track their activities and potentially leading to data loss and operational disruption.

Attackers can exploit Unusual device wipe activity by using it as a means to erase evidence of malicious activities. They may initiate multiple device wipes at the same time, causing significant data loss and operational disruption.

Cayosoft Guardian detects Unusual device wipe activity by monitoring Intune Device Management Logs for instances where more than N device wipe or reset actions occur within a default 10-minute window, indicating potential unauthorized access or malicious activity.

Cayosoft Guardian helps mitigate the risk of Unusual device wipe activity by providing visibility into Intune Device Management Logs and alerting administrators to review them, allowing teams to intervene and prevent further damage.

Stop AD Threats As They Happen

Cayosoft Protector provides continuous monitoring and real-time alerts across your entire Microsoft Identity stack

Classification
Systems
Entra ID Intune
Themes
Device Management Security
Attack Tactics
Impact
Defend Tactics
D3-DKP Disk Partitioning
Indicator Types
IOC
Related Threats
CTD-000139
Kerberos Constrained Delegation: krbtgt Risks
Critical
CTD-000122
Active Directory Schema Update Permission Risks
Critical