Windows Security Monitoring: Scenarios and Patterns

Dig deep into the Windows auditing subsystem to monitor for malicious activities and enhance Windows system security

Written by a former Microsoft security program manager, DEFCON "Forensics CTF" village author and organizer, and CISSP, this book digs deep into the Windows security auditing subsystem to help you understand the operating system′s event logging patterns for operations and changes performed within the system. Expert guidance brings you up to speed on Windows auditing, logging, and event systems to help you exploit the full capabilities of these powerful components. Scenario–based instruction provides clear illustration of how these events unfold in the real world. From security monitoring and event patterns to deep technical details about the Windows auditing subsystem and components, this book provides detailed information on security events generated by the operating system for many common operations such as user account authentication, Active Directory object modifications, local security policy changes, and other activities.

This book is based on the author′s experience and the results of his research into Microsoft Windows security monitoring and anomaly detection. It presents the most common scenarios people should be aware of to check for any potentially suspicious activity.

Learn to:

Implement the Security Logging and Monitoring policy Dig into the Windows security auditing subsystem Understand the most common monitoring event patterns related to operations and changes in the Microsoft Windows operating system

Introduction xxix

Part I Introduction to Windows Security Monitoring 1

Chapter 1 Windows Security Logging and Monitoring Policy 3

Part II Windows Auditing Subsystem 11

Chapter 2 Auditing Subsystem Architecture 13

Chapter 3 Auditing Subcategories and Recommendations 47

Part III Security Monitoring Scenarios 81

Chapter 4 Account Logon 83

Chapter 5 Local User Accounts 141

Chapter 6 Local Security Groups 201

Chapter 7 Microsoft Active Directory 237

Chapter 8 Active Directory Objects 285

Chapter 9 Authentication Protocols 323

Chapter 10 Operating System Events 367

Chapter 11 Logon Rights and User Privileges 419

Chapter 12 Windows Applications 437

Chapter 13 Filesystem and Removable Storage 485

Chapter 14 Windows Registry 523

Chapter 15 Network File Shares and Named Pipes 559

Appendix A Kerberos AS—REQ, TGS—REQ, and AP—REQ Messages Ticket Options 585

Appendix B Kerberos AS—REQ, TGS—REQ, and AP—REQ Messages Result Codes 589

Appendix C SDDL Access Rights 597

Object–Specific Access Rights 598

Index 603

Andrei Miroshnikov is a former security program manager with Microsoft. He is an organizer and author for the DEFCON security conference "Forensics CTF" village and has been a speaker at Microsoft′s Bluehat security conference. In addition, Andrei is an author of the "Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 Security Auditing and Monitoring Reference" and multiple internal Microsoft security training documents. Among his many professional qualifications, he has earned the (ISC)2 CISSP and Microsoft MCSE: Security certifications.