win:security 4648
A logon was attempted using explicit credentials.
- Log source
- Windows Security event log
- Host type
- Windows (workstation, member server, domain controller)
- How to enable
- Advanced Audit Policy: Logon/Logoff > Audit Logon
- Audit category
- Logon/Logoff
- Audit subcategory
- Audit Logon
- Tier, host type
- Minimum
- Techniques
- 33
- Rules depending on it
- Splunk 3, Sigma 2, Microsoft Sentinel 1
Why this tier
DISA STIG (server); DISA STIG (workstation); Microsoft audit baseline (dc); Microsoft audit baseline (server); Microsoft audit baseline (workstation); NSA
By role
| Role | Tier | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Windows workstation | Minimum | DISA STIG (workstation); Microsoft audit baseline (workstation); NSA |
| Windows member server | Minimum | DISA STIG (server); Microsoft audit baseline (server); NSA |
| Windows domain controller | Minimum | DISA STIG (server); Microsoft audit baseline (dc); Microsoft audit baseline (server); NSA |
| Windows web server (IIS), internet-facing | Minimum | DISA STIG (server); Microsoft audit baseline (server); NSA |
Techniques it helps detect
- T1021 Remote Services
- T1021.001 Remote Desktop Protocol
- T1021.002 SMB/Windows Admin Shares
- T1021.003 Distributed Component Object Model
- T1021.005 VNC
- T1021.006 Windows Remote Management
- T1037.001 Logon Script (Windows)
- T1070.005 Network Share Connection Removal
- T1078.001 Default Accounts
- T1078.003 Local Accounts
- T1110.003 Password Spraying
- T1111 Multi-Factor Authentication Interception
- T1185 Browser Session Hijacking
- T1189 Drive-by Compromise
- T1199 Trusted Relationship
- T1480 Execution Guardrails
- T1480.001 Environmental Keying
- T1505.003 Web Shell
- T1534 Internal Spearphishing
- T1550 Use Alternate Authentication Material
- T1550.002 Pass the Hash
- T1550.003 Pass the Ticket
- T1552.001 Credentials In Files
- T1556.001 Domain Controller Authentication
- T1558.003 Kerberoasting
- T1563 Remote Service Session Hijacking
- T1563.002 RDP Hijacking
- T1606 Forge Web Credentials
- T1606.001 Web Cookies
- T1606.002 SAML Tokens
- T1657 Financial Theft
- T1684 Social Engineering
- T1684.001 Impersonation
Rules that depend on it
Splunk 3
Sigma 2
- Potentially Suspicious Explicit Credential Local Logon by Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
- Suspicious Remote Logon with Explicit Credentials by oscd.community, Teymur Kheirkhabarov @HeirhabarovT, Zach Stanford @svch0st, Tim Shelton
Microsoft Sentinel 1
Standards and guidance naming it
| Requirement | Relation | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| OMB M-26-14: Attack vectors and lateral movementAppendix B item 5(10) | Supports an activity | our analysis: explicit credential use |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 11 V2R11 (2026-10-05) | Names this event | WN11-AU-000070 (workstation): Audit Logon Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 11 V2R11 (2026-10-05) | Names this event | WN11-AU-000075 (workstation): Audit Logon Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2022 V2R11 | Names this event | WN22-AU-000190 (server): Audit Logon Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2022 V2R11 | Names this event | WN22-AU-000200 (server): Audit Logon Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 10 V3R6 (2026-01-23) | Names this event | WN10-AU-000070 (workstation): Audit Logon Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 10 V3R6 (2026-01-23) | Names this event | WN10-AU-000075 (workstation): Audit Logon Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2019 V3R9 (2026-07-10) | Names this event | WN19-AU-000190 (server): Audit Logon Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2019 V3R9 (2026-07-10) | Names this event | WN19-AU-000200 (server): Audit Logon Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2025 V1R1 (2026-02-27) | Names this event | WN25-AU-000190 (server): Audit Logon Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2025 V1R1 (2026-02-27) | Names this event | WN25-AU-000200 (server): Audit Logon Failure |
| NSA: Recommended Windows events to forwardEvent Forwarding Guidance (RecommendedEvents.csv) | Names this event | Account Usage: Account Login with Explicit Credentials |
| Microsoft: Events to monitor with potential criticalityAppendix L: Events to Monitor (Windows Server AD DS best practices) | Names this event | potential criticality Low: A logon was attempted using explicit credentials. |