4690 Security log · Object Access medium severity low volume

Windows Event ID 4690 — An attempt was made to duplicate a handle to an object

A handle to an object was duplicated. SourceHandleId, TargetHandleId are key.

Why event 4690 matters

Handle duplication is used for process injection and privilege escalation — duplicating a SYSTEM handle to gain elevated access. Also used in certain credential dumping techniques.

How to detect it

Alert: handle duplication involving LSASS or other sensitive processes from unexpected sources.

Log source
Security
Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Object Access' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).
Fields to pivot on
SubjectUserNameTargetUserNameLogonTypeIpAddressWorkstationName

MITRE ATT&CK mapping

Tactic Technique
Privilege Escalation Access Token Manipulation: Create Process with Token (T1134.002)

Detection queries

Starting points — adapt the log source, projected fields and thresholds for your environment.

Sentinel / Defender KQL
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4690   // An attempt was made to duplicate a handle to an object
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress, WorkstationName
| sort by TimeGenerated desc
Splunk SPL
index=* sourcetype="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode=4690
| stats count earliest(_time) as first_seen latest(_time) as last_seen by ComputerName
| sort - count   `# An attempt was made to duplicate a handle to an object — add EventData fields: SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress`
Hunt event 4690 in Sentinel/Defender →
Build a KQL query for this event in the KQL Query Builder.
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Open the interactive Windows Event ID lookup.

Related Object Access events

4656 A handle to an object was requested 4657 A registry value was modified 4658 The handle to an object was closed 4660 An object was deleted 4663 An attempt was made to access an object 4665 An attempt was made to create an application client context 4670 Permissions on an object were changed 4985 The state of a transaction has changed 5140 A network share object was accessed 5142 A network share object was added 5143 A network share object was modified 5144 A network share object was deleted

Frequently asked questions

What is Windows Event ID 4690?

An attempt was made to duplicate a handle to an object. A handle to an object was duplicated. SourceHandleId, TargetHandleId are key.

Which log records event 4690?

Event 4690 is written to the Security channel by Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing. Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Object Access' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).

What MITRE ATT&CK techniques map to event 4690?

Event 4690 is associated with: Access Token Manipulation: Create Process with Token (T1134.002).

How do you detect activity around event 4690?

Alert: handle duplication involving LSASS or other sensitive processes from unexpected sources.