The "M365 Suspect Power Automate Activity" detection identifies potentially unauthorized or unusual activities involving Microsoft Power Automate, an Office 365 tool used to create automated workflows. This detection helps identify when Power Automate is used for data exfiltration, automation of attack mechanisms, or actions that bypass typical user policies.
An attacker who has gained access to an account may create or alter Power Automate flows to facilitate data exfiltration, automate repetitive attack actions, or establish control channels that allow for persistence and lateral movement. This tactic bypasses standard monitoring tools and can interact directly with internal data and services.
In legitimate scenarios, users might create or adjust Power Automate workflows as part of regular business operations, such as automating report generation or integrating different applications. However, unusual usage patterns or unauthorized use can raise alerts, especially if it deviates from normal user behavior.
An attacker modifies an existing Power Automate workflow to send data to an external service, disguising it as part of normal business operations.
A user without sufficient authorization creates complex flows that trigger security mechanisms, prompting an investigation.
If this detection indicates a genuine threat, the organization faces significant risks:
Malicious Power Automate flows can enable attackers to transfer sensitive information outside the organization, leading to data breaches.
Power Automate workflows manipulated by an attacker can impact the organization by automating harmful actions, such as sending misleading communications or changing data.
The ability to automate and schedule tasks provides attackers a foothold for maintaining long-term access.
Examine the connectors and actions within the flow to identify any unusual patterns that do not align with expected user behavior.
Confirm that the user modifying or creating flows has the proper authorization and that no unauthorized changes were made.
Investigate any recent logins or modifications to understand if the user’s account has been compromised or used as part of an attack sequence.
Track if any data exfiltration or additional automated tasks occur after the creation or modification of suspicious Power Automate workflows.
Attackers exploit its powerful automation capabilities to interact with internal resources, bypass security checks, and conduct operations covertly.
Immediately review the flow's details, contact the involved user, and investigate any linked activities for potential compromise.
Yes, Office 365 provides audit logs that can be used to review flow creation, modification, and execution.
Data stored in connected services like SharePoint, OneDrive, and email content could be targeted by malicious workflows.
Often, yes. It may be associated with other tactics involving lateral movement, data collection, or external C2 channels.
Check the user's history and roles to confirm if using Power Automate aligns with their job responsibilities.
Yes, if a legitimate user performs an unusual or novel workflow action that deviates from typical patterns.
Implement role-based access control, monitor audit logs, and restrict connectors as necessary.
Yes, it can execute scripts or call external services that perform command-like actions.
Solutions with deep Microsoft 365 integration, including advanced threat protection and audit capabilities, help monitor and control Power Automate activities.