win:security 4720
A user account was created.
- Log source
- Windows Security event log
- Host type
- Windows (workstation, member server, domain controller)
- How to enable
- Advanced Audit Policy: Account Management > Audit User Account Management
- Audit category
- Account Management
- Audit subcategory
- Audit User Account Management
- Tier, host type
- Minimum
- Techniques
- 6
- Rules depending on it
- Splunk 3, Sigma 4, Microsoft Sentinel 3
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
Rules that depend on it
Splunk 3
Sigma 4
- Hidden Local User Creation by Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)
- Local User Creation by Patrick Bareiss
- New or Renamed User Account with '$' Character by Ilyas Ochkov, oscd.community
- Suspicious Windows ANONYMOUS LOGON Local Account Created by James Pemberton / @4A616D6573
Standards and guidance naming it
| Requirement | Relation | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 11 V2R11 (2026-10-05) | Names this event | WN11-AU-000035 (workstation): Audit User Account Management Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 11 V2R11 (2026-10-05) | Names this event | WN11-AU-000040 (workstation): Audit User Account Management Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2022 V2R11 | Names this event | WN22-AU-000110 (server): Audit User Account Management Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2022 V2R11 | Names this event | WN22-AU-000120 (server): Audit User Account Management Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 10 V3R6 (2026-01-23) | Names this event | WN10-AU-000035 (workstation): Audit User Account Management Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows 10 V3R6 (2026-01-23) | Names this event | WN10-AU-000040 (workstation): Audit User Account Management Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2019 V3R9 (2026-07-10) | Names this event | WN19-AU-000110 (server): Audit User Account Management Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2019 V3R9 (2026-07-10) | Names this event | WN19-AU-000120 (server): Audit User Account Management Failure |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2025 V1R1 (2026-02-27) | Names this event | WN25-AU-000110 (server): Audit User Account Management Success |
| DISA STIG: Advanced audit policy requirementsMicrosoft Windows Server 2025 V1R1 (2026-02-27) | Names this event | WN25-AU-000120 (server): Audit User Account Management Failure |
| NSA: Recommended Windows events to forwardEvent Forwarding Guidance (RecommendedEvents.csv) | Names this event | Account Usage: New User Account Created |
| Microsoft: Events to monitor with potential criticalityAppendix L: Events to Monitor (Windows Server AD DS best practices) | Names this event | potential criticality Low: A user account was created. |
EDR events that stand in for it
Full: the sensor event carries what this event carries. Partial: the sensor reports a subset, so it does not replace the event.
| Product | Sensor event | Fidelity | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint device tables | DeviceEvents | Partial | our analysis: UserAccountCreated ActionType in DeviceEvents; local accounts only |