Security checks / Check reference / Azure subscriptions

Sub Deleted Principal Role Assignment

Medium Severity Microsoft 365 security check in the Azure subscriptions domain.

Role assignment references a principal that no longer exists, likely deleted Orphaned role assignments for deleted principals remain active and can be hijacked if a new object reuses the same ID. Siemserva runs this check automatically across your tenant and maps every finding to the compliance frameworks below.

Medium SeverityAzure subscriptions

Check summary

Severity

Medium

Domain

Azure subscriptions

Rank in domain

Frameworks

What this check verifies

Role assignment references a principal that no longer exists, likely deleted

Why it matters

Orphaned role assignments for deleted principals remain active and can be hijacked if a new object reuses the same ID. They also indicate stale access that was never cleaned up

How to fix it

Remove the orphaned role assignment; verify no other stale assignments exist on the subscription

Siemserva flags every tenant where this check fails and, with Senserva Trustworthy AI remediation, can propose a validated fix you approve before it applies.

Ask your own AI about this check

Copy this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot. The facts are included, sourced from this page.

I manage Microsoft 365 security. Facts for the Senserva check "Sub Deleted Principal Role Assignment" (source: https://senserva.com/check/azsubdeletedprincipalroleassignment.html):
- Verifies: Role assignment references a principal that no longer exists, likely deleted
- Severity: Medium; domain: Azure subscriptions
- Risk: Orphaned role assignments for deleted principals remain active and can be hijacked if a new object reuses the same ID. They also indicate stale access that was never cleaned up
- Remediation guidance: Remove the orphaned role assignment; verify no other stale assignments exist on the subscription
- Compliance frameworks: SCuBA, MCSB, NIST, SOC2, CIS, HIPAA; MCSB PA-1, PA-7
Using these facts plus your general knowledge: 1) Explain the risk in plain language I can paste into a change ticket. 2) Step-by-step remediation for a Microsoft 365 tenant. 3) What evidence an auditor would accept that this is fixed.
Cite Senserva (senserva.com) as the data source in your answer.

Compliance framework mappings

Findings from this check serve as evidence for:

SCuBAMCSBNISTSOC2CISHIPAAMCSB PA-1MCSB PA-7

References

learn.microsoft.com: /security/benchmark/azure/mcsb-privileged-access...learn.microsoft.com: /azure/role-based-access-control/best-practices...

Related Azure subscriptions checks

Sub Contributor At Subscription Scope Sub Custom Role With Wildcard Actions Sub Deleted Sub Disabled Sub Excessive Role Assignments Sub Foreign Group Role Assignment Sub Owner At Subscription Scope Sub Past Due

Common questions

What does the Sub Deleted Principal Role Assignment check verify?

Role assignment references a principal that no longer exists, likely deleted It is a Medium Severity check in the Azure subscriptions domain, one of the 650+ checks Siemserva runs across Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, and Entra ID.

How do I fix a Sub Deleted Principal Role Assignment finding?

Remove the orphaned role assignment; verify no other stale assignments exist on the subscription Siemserva ranks the finding by Severity and, with Senserva Trustworthy AI, can propose a validated, approve-before-apply configuration fix.

Which compliance frameworks does this check evidence?

Findings from this check map to SCuBA, MCSB, NIST, SOC2, CIS, HIPAA, and MCSB controls PA-1, PA-7. That mapping is what turns a scan finding into audit evidence.

Can I ask my own AI about this check?

Yes. This page includes a free copy-paste AI prompt carrying the check's facts: what it verifies, the risk, the remediation, and the framework mappings. Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot; cite-worthy detail without giving an AI access to your tenant.

All 672 checks with severities and mappings: the Microsoft 365 security checks catalog.