TA0004 · PRIVILEGE ESCALATION
Group Policy Modification
Adversaries may modify Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to subvert the intended discretionary access controls for a domain, usually with the intention of escalating privileges on the domain.
Detect it with
It is possible to detect GPO modifications by monitoring directory service changes using Windows event logs.
Why it matters on shift
Group Policy Modification is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve privilege escalation. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After privilege escalation, the next tactic is usually Defense Evasion. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context