A user account was changed

// EVENT DEFINITION:

User account attributes (`UserAccountControl`, SPN, logon hours, profile paths) were modified.

// DETAILED TELEMETRY & CONTEXT:

Event ID 4738 is emitted when any attribute of a user account is updated. Crucially, it captures exact changes in the `UserAccountControl` field (such as `DONT_EXPIRE_PASSWORD`, `SMARTCARD_REQUIRED`, `PASSWD_NOTREQD`, or `SMARTCARD_REQUIRED` removal), as well as additions of `Service Principal Names (SPNs)` (`ServicePrincipalNames`) onto user accounts, which enables **Kerberoasting**.

[ ! ]Failure Reason / Root Cause Analysis

Helpdesk profile updates, or attacker setting `DONT_EXPIRE_PASSWORD` / adding SPNs to backdoor accounts.

Operational Metadata & Applicability

Log Category:Account Management

Audit Type Classification:Success Audit

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

Threat Hunting Keywords:

account changeduseraccountcontrolspn addeddont_expire_passwordpasswd_notreqddelegation

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Alignment

T1098

Account ManipulationTactic: Persistence

T1558.003

Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets: KerberoastingTactic: Credential Access

Mitigation Playbook & Recommended SOC Actions

•Alert immediately on any 4738 event where `UserAccountControl` shows `Password Not Required` (`PASSWD_NOTREQD`) enabled.
•Monitor for SPN additions (`ServicePrincipalNames` changed from `-` to valid SPN) on non-service user accounts (`Kerberoasting backdoor setup`).
•Check for modifications to `AllowedToDelegateTo` indicating Kerberos delegation tampering.

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>4738</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>0</Level>
    <Task>12544</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8020000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-07-17T09:54:44.316Z" />
    <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 A user account was changed -->
  </EventData>
</Event>

Correlated / Related Security Event IDs

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