Set-RecipientFilterConfig Exchange cmdlet issued (25442) how to monitor with email alert

[bob]

You ever notice how Windows Server logs everything in Event Viewer? That event ID 25442 pops up when someone runs the Set-RecipientFilterConfig cmdlet in Exchange. It means a change hit the recipient filters. Those filters control who gets emails or how they're sorted. And yeah, it could be legit admin work. But hackers love tweaking that stuff to sneak in. The log shows the user who did it. Timestamp too. Full command details if you're lucky. Source is usually MSExchange ADAccess or something similar. Level is information, not error. So it doesn't scream danger. Yet you want eyes on it quick. I check mine daily. You should too.

Hmmm, monitoring that beast with email alerts? Fire up Event Viewer first. Right-click the tree on the left. Pick create custom view. Filter for event ID 25442. Source MSExchange. Log is application or security, depending. Save that view. Now, right-click it again. Attach a task to this event. Choose send email. Fill in your SMTP server. Add recipient, like your inbox. Subject something snappy, like "Exchange Filter Changed!" Body grabs the event details automatically. Test it out. Boom, alerts fly when it triggers.

Or set a scheduled task instead. From Event Viewer screen, action menu. Create task. Trigger on that event ID. Action tab, start a program. Use mailto or whatever your email client hooks into. Simpler that way sometimes. I do it for peace of mind. You try it next downtime.

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Note, the PowerShell email alert code was moved to this post.