title: Azure Service Principal Removed
id: 448fd1ea-2116-4c62-9cde-a92d120e0f08
status: test
description: Identifies when a service principal was removed in Azure.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/monitoring-health/reference-audit-activities#core-directory
    - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/keeping-track-of-object-deletions-in-microsoft-entra-id/4053415
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger
date: 2021-09-03
modified: 2026-04-30
tags:
    - attack.stealth
logsource:
    product: azure
    service: auditlogs
detection:
    selection:
        operationName: 'Remove service principal'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Service principal being removed may be performed by a system administrator.
    - Verify whether the user identity, user agent, and/or hostname should be making changes in your environment.
    - Service principal removed from unfamiliar users should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
level: medium