Configuring Windows Event Logging For Detection

---
name: configuring-windows-event-logging-for-detection
description: 'Configures Windows Event Logging with advanced audit policies to generate
  high-fidelity security events for threat detection and forensic investigation. Use
  when enabling audit policies for logon events, process creation, privilege use,
  and object access to feed SIEM detection rules. Activates for requests involving
  Windows audit policy, event log configuration, security logging, or detection-oriented
  logging.

  '
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: endpoint-security
tags:
- endpoint
- windows-security
- event-logging
- audit-policy
- detection-engineering
version: 1.0.0
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- PR.PS-01
- PR.PS-02
- DE.CM-01
- PR.IR-01
mitre_attack:
- T1685.005
- T1059.001
- T1053.005
- T1047
- T1543.003
---
# Configuring Windows Event Logging for Detection

## When to Use

Use this skill when:
- Configuring Windows Advanced Audit Policy for security monitoring
- Enabling process creation auditing with command line logging (Event 4688)
- Setting up logon/logoff auditing for authentication monitoring
- Sizing event log storage and forwarding to SIEM platforms

**Do not use** for Sysmon configuration (separate skill) or Linux audit logging.

## Prerequisites

- Windows Server or Windows 10/11 systems with Group Policy management access
- Active Directory environment with Group Policy Object (GPO) creation privileges
- SIEM platform configured to receive Windows Event Log forwarding
- Understanding of Windows security event IDs and audit categories

## Workflow

### Step 1: Configure Advanced Audit Policy via GPO

```
Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings
  → Advanced Audit Policy Configuration → Audit Policies

Recommended settings:
Account Logon:
  - Audit Credential Validation: Success, Failure
  - Audit Kerberos Authentication: Success, Failure

Account Management:
  - Audit Security Group Management: Success
  - Audit User Account Management: Success, Failure

Logon/Logoff:
  - Audit Logon: Success, Failure
  - Audit Logoff: Success
  - Audit Special Logon: Success
  - Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events: Success, Failure

Object Access:
  - Audit File Share: Success, Failure
  - Audit Removable Storage: Success, Failure
  - Audit SAM: Success

Policy Change:
  - Audit Audit Policy Change: Success, Failure
  - Audit Authentication Policy Change: Success

Privilege Use:
  - Audit Sensitive Privilege Use: Success, Failure

Detailed Tracking:
  - Audit Process Creation: Success
  - Audit DPAPI Activity: Success, Failure
```

### Step 2: Enable Command Line in Process Creation Events

```powershell
# Registry: Enable command line logging in Event 4688
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Audit" `
  -Name ProcessCreationIncludeCmdLine_Enabled -Value 1 -PropertyType DWORD -Force

# GPO: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Audit Process Creation
# "Include command line in process creation events" → Enabled
```

### Step 3: Configure Event Log Sizes

```powershell
# Increase Security log to 1 GB (default 20 MB is insufficient)
wevtutil sl Security /ms:1073741824

# Increase PowerShell Operational log
wevtutil sl "Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational" /ms:536870912

# Set log retention to overwrite as needed
wevtutil sl Security /rt:false

# Configure via GPO:
# Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components
#   → Event Log Service → Security
# Maximum log file size (KB): 1048576
```

### Step 4: Configure Windows Event Forwarding (WEF)

```powershell
# On collector server:
wecutil qc /q

# Create subscription for high-value events:
# Event IDs: 4624 (logon), 4625 (failed logon), 4688 (process create),
# 4672 (special privilege), 4720 (user created), 4728 (group membership),
# 7045 (service installed), 1102 (log cleared)

# On source endpoints (GPO):
# Configure WinRM: winrm quickconfig
# Configure event forwarding: Computer Configuration → Admin Templates
#   → Windows Components → Event Forwarding
# Configure target Subscription Manager: Server=http://collector:5985/wsman/SubscriptionManager/WEC
```

### Step 5: Key Event IDs for Detection

```
Authentication Events:
  4624 - Successful logon (Type 2=Interactive, 3=Network, 10=RemoteInteractive)
  4625 - Failed logon attempt
  4648 - Logon using explicit credentials (RunAs, pass-the-hash indicator)
  4672 - Special privileges assigned (admin logon)
  4776 - NTLM credential validation

Process Events:
  4688 - Process creation (with command line if enabled)
  4689 - Process termination

Account Events:
  4720 - User account created
  4722 - User account enabled
  4724 - Password reset attempted
  4728 - Member added to security group
  4732 - Member added to local group
  4756 - Member added to universal group

Service/System Events:
  7045 - New service installed (persistence indicator)
  1102 - Audit log cleared (evidence tampering)
  4697 - Service installed in the system

Lateral Movement Indicators:
  4648 + 4624(Type 3) - Credential-based lateral movement
  5140 - Network share accessed
  5145 - Network share access check (detailed file share)
```

## Key Concepts

| Term | Definition |
|------|-----------|
| **Advanced Audit Policy** | Granular audit subcategories (58 subcategories vs. 9 basic categories) |
| **Event ID 4688** | Process creation event; essential for tracking execution on endpoints |
| **WEF** | Windows Event Forwarding; centralized log collection without third-party agents |
| **Logon Type** | Numeric code indicating authentication method (2=interactive, 3=network, 10=RDP) |

## Tools & Systems

- **Windows Event Forwarding (WEF)**: Built-in centralized log collection
- **NXLog**: Open-source log forwarding agent for Windows events
- **Winlogbeat**: Elastic Agent for shipping Windows event logs to Elasticsearch
- **Palantir WEF Configuration**: Open-source WEF subscription templates

## Common Pitfalls

- **Using basic audit policy instead of advanced**: Basic and advanced audit policies conflict. Always use advanced audit policy exclusively.
- **Default log size too small**: 20 MB Security log fills in minutes on busy servers. Set minimum 1 GB.
- **Missing command line logging**: Event 4688 without command line content has minimal detection value. Always enable ProcessCreationIncludeCmdLine_Enabled.
- **Not forwarding logs**: Local event logs are lost when endpoints are wiped by ransomware. Forward to centralized SIEM immediately.