Event ID 4755: Universal group changed
- Event ID
- 4755
- Channel
- Security
- Provider
- Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing
- Log file
- Security.evtx
- Category
- Groups
- Default logging
- Logged by default
What event 4755 means
Event 4755 is written on the domain controller that processed the change when a security-enabled universal group is modified. It is the universal-group equivalent of 4735 (local and domain local groups) and 4737 (global groups), with the same fields.
Only SamAccountName and SidHistory are shown when they change; other modifications leave every attribute at -. An empty 4755 typically accompanies each membership change (4756, 4757), and a rename also produces 4781.
Use it as a marker and read it together with the membership events in the same second, or with 5136 when directory service change auditing is enabled.
When it is logged
Advanced Audit Policy Configuration > Account Management > Audit Security Group Management (Success). Success is audited in the default Windows audit policy.
Only generated on domain controllers.
Key fields
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| TargetUserName | Name of the changed group (the new name after a rename). |
| TargetDomainName | Domain of the group. |
| TargetSid | SID of the group. |
| SamAccountName | New pre-Windows 2000 name if it changed, otherwise -. |
| SidHistory | New SID history if it changed, otherwise -. |
| SubjectUserName | Account that changed the group. |
| SubjectDomainName | Domain of the subject. |
| SubjectLogonId | Logon session of the subject on the DC; correlate with 4624. |
| PrivilegeList | Privileges used for the operation, often -. |
Common benign sources
- Empty 4755 events logged with ordinary membership changes.
- Group renames or conversions during directory reorganizations.
What attackers do that produces it
- Renaming or adding SID history to a privileged universal group to disguise it.
Investigation tips
- Correlate with 4756 and 4757 in the same second to identify the membership change.
- When SamAccountName is set, find the matching 4781 for the old name.
- Use 5136 to see which attribute changed when the event shows only dashes.
MITRE ATT&CK techniques
| Technique | Tactics |
|---|---|
| T1098 Account Manipulation | Persistence, Privilege Escalation |
MITRE ATT&CK v19.2. Technique and tactic names are MITRE's.
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