The system time was changed

// EVENT DEFINITION:

The system time was changed manually or via NTP synchronization.

// DETAILED TELEMETRY & CONTEXT:

Event ID 4616 records modifications to system clock time. It captures the Previous Time, New Time, and the Subject Account (`SubjectUserName` / `ProcessName`) that performed the adjustment. Attackers frequently alter system clocks ('timestomping' or clock manipulation) to disrupt Kerberos token expiration or desynchronize SIEM audit trails.

[ ! ]Failure Reason / Root Cause Analysis

Normal NTP time synchronization (`w32time`), CMOS battery failure, or malicious clock tampering to confuse forensic timeline analysis.

Operational Metadata & Applicability

Log Category:System

Audit Type Classification:Success Audit

Supported Operating Systems:Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 / Windows Client 10, 11 (Enterprise / Pro)

Threat Hunting Keywords:

time changetimestompingntpw32timeclock syncdefense evasion

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Alignment

T1070.006

Indicator Removal: TimestompingTactic: Defense Evasion

Mitigation Playbook & Recommended SOC Actions

•Verify whether the `ProcessName` corresponds to `C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe` (`w32time` service).
•Alert if system time is shifted by more than 5 minutes by non-system identities.

Representative Windows Event XML Schema

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing" Guid="{54849625-5478-4994-A5BA-3E3B0328C30D}" />
    <EventID>4616</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>0</Level>
    <Task>12544</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8020000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-07-17T09:54:44.257Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1048576</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="612" ThreadID="1024" />
    <Channel>Security</Channel>
    <Computer>DC01.enterprise.internal</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="SubjectUserSid">S-1-5-18</Data>
    <Data Name="SubjectUserName">SYSTEM</Data>
    <Data Name="SubjectDomainName">NT AUTHORITY</Data>
    <Data Name="SubjectLogonId">0x3e7</Data>
    <!-- Event telemetry fields specific to The system time was changed -->
  </EventData>
</Event>

Correlated / Related Security Event IDs

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