4715 Security log · Policy Change medium severity low volume

Windows Event ID 4715 — The audit policy (SACL) on an object was changed

SACL modified on a system object.

Why event 4715 matters

Removing audit SACLs from sensitive objects (LSASS, SAM) to blind object-access auditing before credential dumping.

How to detect it

Alert: SACL removal from sensitive system objects.

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

MITRE ATT&CK mapping

Tactic Technique
Defense Evasion Impair Defenses (T1562)

Detection queries

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

Sentinel / Defender KQL
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4715   // The audit policy (SACL) on an object was changed
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress, WorkstationName
| sort by TimeGenerated desc
Splunk SPL
index=* sourcetype="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode=4715
| stats count earliest(_time) as first_seen latest(_time) as last_seen by ComputerName
| sort - count   `# The audit policy (SACL) on an object was changed — add EventData fields: SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress`
Hunt event 4715 in Sentinel/Defender →
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Related Policy Change events

4698 A scheduled task was created 4699 A scheduled task was deleted 4700 A scheduled task was enabled 4701 A scheduled task was disabled 4702 A scheduled task was updated 4703 A token right was adjusted 4704 A user right was assigned 4705 A user right was removed 4706 A new trust was created to a domain 4707 A trust to a domain was removed 4713 Kerberos policy was changed 4714 Encrypted data recovery policy was changed

Frequently asked questions

What is Windows Event ID 4715?

The audit policy (SACL) on an object was changed. SACL modified on a system object.

Which log records event 4715?

Event 4715 is written to the Security channel by Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing. Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Policy Change' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).

What MITRE ATT&CK techniques map to event 4715?

Event 4715 is associated with: Impair Defenses (T1562).

How do you detect activity around event 4715?

Alert: SACL removal from sensitive system objects.