A directory service object was undeleted

// EVENT DEFINITION:

An Active Directory object previously marked as deleted (`isDeleted=TRUE`) was restored from the AD Recycle Bin.

// DETAILED TELEMETRY & CONTEXT:

Event ID 5138 records object undelete operations across Active Directory (`Active Directory Recycle Bin restoration`). While legitimate during accidental deletion recovery, adversaries sometimes undelete previously compromised user accounts or computer accounts (`DCShadow` / zombie objects) to restore backdoor access without generating standard `Account Created` (`4720`) events.

[ ! ]Failure Reason / Root Cause Analysis

Undelete API operation performed on AD object (`ObjectDN`).

Operational Metadata & Applicability

Log Category:Directory Service Access

Audit Type Classification:Success Audit

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

Threat Hunting Keywords:

5138directory object undeletedad recycle bin restorezombie account restored

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Alignment

T1098

Account ManipulationTactic: Persistence

T1562

Impair DefensesTactic: Defense Evasion

Mitigation Playbook & Recommended SOC Actions

•Verify the identity of the undeleted object (`ObjectDN`) and confirm whether the restoration was part of an approved IT change request.

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>5138</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>0</Level>
    <Task>12544</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8020000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-07-17T09:54:44.353Z" />
    <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 directory service object was undeleted -->
  </EventData>
</Event>

Correlated / Related Security Event IDs

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