# yaml-language-server: $schema=../../../../schema/control.schema.json
id: CB-M365-AUTH-043
title: Notify all Global Administrators when an administrator resets their password
finding:
  title: Administrator password resets through SSPR are not reported to the other administrators
  description: A takeover of a privileged account through the reset process goes unnoticed by the people best placed to react.
status: active
profiles: [baseline]
risk:
  severity: low
assessment: manual
tags: [sspr, notifications, privileged-access, account-recovery]

description: |
  In the self-service password reset settings, **Notify all admins when other admins reset their
  password?** is **Yes**. When an administrator resets their own password with SSPR, every Global
  Administrator receives an email at their primary address.
rationale: |
  A reset of an administrator password is rare and sensitive. Informing the other administrators
  gives a second pair of eyes: an unexpected reset of a colleague's account is a strong signal of
  takeover that can be checked within minutes.
impact: |
  Global Administrators receive an email for each administrator self-service reset. If Global
  Administrators have no monitored mailbox, route the notifications to the security team with the
  SSPR customization link or a mail flow rule.
notes: |
  Only Global Administrators are notified. Alerting the SOC on the corresponding audit event
  (**Reset password (self-service)** on a privileged account) gives a more reliable signal; it is
  covered by the audit domain.

setting:
  location: Microsoft Entra admin center > Entra ID > Password reset > Notifications > Notify all admins when other admins reset their password?
  default_value: "No"
  recommended_value: "Yes"

audit:
  manual: |
    1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center (https://entra.microsoft.com) as at least a
       Global Reader.
    2. Browse to **Entra ID** > **Password reset** > **Notifications**.
    3. Check that **Notify all admins when other admins reset their password?** is **Yes**.
    4. Fail if it is **No**.

remediation:
  manual: |
    1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least an Authentication Policy
       Administrator.
    2. Browse to **Entra ID** > **Password reset** > **Notifications**.
    3. Set **Notify all admins when other admins reset their password?** to **Yes** and **Save**.
  rollback: |
    Set the option to **No**.

references:
  - title: How self-service password reset works - notifications
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/authentication/concept-sspr-howitworks
    publisher: Microsoft
    kind: vendor-doc
    accessed: 2026-10-24
  - title: "Tutorial: Enable users to unlock their account or reset passwords using Microsoft Entra self-service password reset"
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/authentication/tutorial-enable-sspr
    publisher: Microsoft
    kind: vendor-doc
    accessed: 2026-10-24
mappings:
  - framework: cis-m365
    framework_version: "7.0.0"
    id: "5.2.4.5"
    relation: equivalent
  - framework: nist-800-53r5
    framework_version: "5.1.1"
    id: AC-2(4)
    relation: related
threats:
  - framework: mitre-attack
    id: T1098
  - framework: mitre-attack
    id: T1078.004
related_controls:
  - id: CB-M365-AUTH-039
    type: requires
  - id: CB-M365-AUTH-042
    type: related

authors:
  - name: Alice
    github: Sn0wAlice
introduced_in: 0.1.0
created: 2026-10-24
updated: 2026-10-24