> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/a-cloud-identity-executed-an-api-call-from-an-unusual-country.md).
# A cloud identity executed an API call from an unusual country
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
AWS Audit Log OR Azure Audit Log OR Gcp Audit Log OR Kubernetes Audit Logs
|
| Detection Modules | Cloud |
| Detector Tags | Kubernetes - API, OCI Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
### Attacker's Goals
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
### Investigative actions
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
### Variations
A suspicious cloud identity executed an API call from an unusual country
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A Kubernetes identity executed an API call from a country that was not seen in the organization
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A Kubernetes identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A cloud identity executed an API call from a country that was not seen in the organization
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A cloud identity executed an API call from an unusual country
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A Kubernetes API call was executed from an unusual country
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A Kubernetes identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A cloud API call was executed from an unusual country
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
A cloud identity executed an API call from an unusual country using a compromised AWS access key
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A cloud identity that normally connects from a limited set of countries connected from a new country for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
Access sensitive resources and gain high privileges.
**Investigative actions**
Check if the identity routed their traffic via a VPN or shared their credentials with a remote employee.
---
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