Windows Event ID 4656 – A Handle To An Object Was Requested

When specific access is requested for an object, event ID 4656 is logged. The object for which access is requested can be of any type — file system, kernel, registry object, or a file system object stored on a removable device.

If access is denied, it is logged as a failure audit. This event shows the result of the access request (which is logged by 4663).

This log data provides the following information:

• Security ID
• Account Name
• Account Domain
• Logon ID
• Object Server
• Object Type
• Object Name
• Handle ID
• Resource Attributes
• Process ID
• Process Name
• Transaction ID
• Access Type
• Access Reasons
• Access Mask
• Privileges Used for Access Check
• Restricted SID Count

Why does event ID 4656 need to be monitored?

• To check if unauthorized or restricted processes are requesting objects
• If a particular object is sensitive and critical, and all access attempts need to be monitored
• To monitor actions of high value accounts
• To detect anomalies and malicious actions
• To ensure non-active, external, and restricted accounts are not used
• To ensure that only white-listed accounts perform certain specific actions
• To enforce conventions and compliances

Pro Tip:

ADAudit Plus provides real-time pre-configured reports and auditing of the changes along with alerts within a Domain & OU. The advanced Group Policy settings real-time audit reports provide detailed information about object related events.