An attempt was made to reset an account's password

// EVENT DEFINITION:

An administrator attempted to reset the password for another user account.

// DETAILED TELEMETRY & CONTEXT:

Unlike Event 4723, Event ID 4724 is generated when a privileged account (`SubjectUserName`) administrative resets the password of a different target identity (`TargetUserName`). Attackers who achieve domain administrative rights frequently force-reset passwords on key service or executive accounts to hijack immediate access.

[ ! ]Failure Reason / Root Cause Analysis

Helpdesk password reset request, or unauthorized administrative takeover of accounts via forced password reset.

Operational Metadata & Applicability

Log Category:Account Management

Audit Type Classification:Success / Failure Audit

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

Threat Hunting Keywords:

password resetadmin password resetaccount takeoverforced resethelpdesk

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Alignment

T1098

Account ManipulationTactic: Persistence

T1098

Account ManipulationTactic: Credential Access

Mitigation Playbook & Recommended SOC Actions

•Alert whenever a password reset (`4724`) targets high-privileged accounts (`Domain Admins`, `KRBTGT`, `Service Accounts`) by non-standard operators.
•Reconcile every administrative password reset with verified helpdesk confirmation tickets.

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>4724</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>0</Level>
    <Task>12544</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8020000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-07-17T09:54:44.302Z" />
    <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 An attempt was made to reset an account's password -->
  </EventData>
</Event>

Correlated / Related Security Event IDs

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