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Introduction
Security Researcher Sapir Federovsky shares her journey in cybersecurity, discussing challenges like imposter syndrome and career growth. Her insights, particularly on Entra ID features, offer valuable lessons for aspiring professionals.
Learning Objectives
- Understand common threats targeting Entra ID (Azure AD)
- Learn defensive techniques for identity security
- Gain career insights for overcoming imposter syndrome in tech
1. Detecting Entra ID Suspicious Sign-Ins
Command (Azure CLI):
az monitor activity-log list --query "[?operationName.value=='Microsoft.AADIAM/signInEvents/allProperties/read']" --output table
Steps:
- Install Azure CLI (
curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash).
2. Authenticate via `az login`.
3. Run the command to audit sign-in events.
Why? This detects anomalous authentication patterns, a common attack vector.
2. Hardening Entra ID Conditional Access
PowerShell Snippet:
New-MgIdentityConditionalAccessPolicy -DisplayName "Require MFA for Admins" -State "enabled" -Conditions @{...} -GrantControls @{Controls="mfa"}
Steps:
1. Use Microsoft Graph PowerShell (`Install-Module Microsoft.Graph`).
2. Define policy conditions (e.g., target admin roles).
3. Enforce MFA for privileged accounts.
Why? 99% of account compromises are preventable with MFA (Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023).
3. Investigating Lateral Movement with KQL
Kusto Query (Microsoft Sentinel):
IdentityLogonEvents | where Application == "Active Directory" | where ActionType == "LogonFailed" | summarize FailedAttempts=count() by AccountName, IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 5
Steps:
1. Navigate to Microsoft Sentinel workspace.
2. Run the query to detect brute-force attempts.
Why? Early detection prevents privilege escalation via compromised credentials.
4. Mitigating Pass-the-Token Attacks
Registry Edit (Windows):
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CredentialsDelegation] "AllowProtectedCreds"=dword:00000001
Steps:
1. Open `regedit.exe` as Administrator.
- Navigate to the key path and modify the DWORD value.
3. Restart the system.
Why? This restricts credential caching, blocking token-theft techniques like Mimikatz.
5. Automating Entra ID Threat Detection
Python Script (MS Graph API):
import msal graph_client = msal.ConfidentialClientApplication( client_id="YOUR_APP_ID", client_credential="YOUR_SECRET", authority="https://login.microsoftonline.com/tenant_id" ) result = graph_client.acquire_token_for_client(scopes=["https://graph.microsoft.com/.default"])
Steps:
- Register an Azure AD app with `SecurityEvents.Read.All` permissions.
- Use the script to fetch security logs programmatically.
Why? Automation enables real-time monitoring for IOC (Indicators of Compromise).
What Undercode Say:
Key Takeaways:
- Identity is the New Perimeter: Entra ID (Azure AD) is a prime target; monitor sign-ins rigorously.
- Imposter Syndrome is Universal: Even experts like Federovsky face self-doubt—persistence is key.
Analysis:
Federovsky’s journey underscores the human element in cybersecurity. Technical controls (like MFA and KQL monitoring) must pair with career resilience. As hybrid work expands, Entra ID’s role in security will grow—expect more AI-driven identity threats (e.g., deepfake voice authentication bypass). Proactive hardening, as shown in the registry edit and conditional access policies, will be critical.
Prediction:
By 2025, 60% of enterprises will adopt AI-driven identity threat detection (Gartner), making early-career research like Federovsky’s foundational for next-gen defenses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=…
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Sapir Federovsky – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
