> 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-contained-executable-was-executed-by-an-unusual-process.md).
# A contained executable was executed by an unusual process
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Escape to Host (T1611), Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions (T1547.006) |
| Severity | Medium |
### Description
A Docker-contained executable from a mounted share was executed on a host. Running a contained executable is highly dangerous and atypical.
### Attacker's Goals
Gain high privileged command execution on the host machine via one of its running containers.
### Investigative actions
* Check what actions were made after the suspicious file execution.
* Investigate the contained process and its process tree.
### Variations
A contained executable was executed by the Linux kernel thread daemon
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Escape to Host (T1611), Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions (T1547.006) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A contained executable in a cloud machine was executed by the Linux kernel thread daemon. This behavior is suspicious as it may be a result of an attacker attempting to escape from a container, as the kernel thread daemon is usually used to spawn kernel processes only.
**Attacker's Goals**
Gain high privileged command execution on the host machine via one of its running containers.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what actions were made after the suspicious file execution.
* Investigate the contained process and its process tree.
A contained executable was executed by the Linux kernel thread daemon
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Escape to Host (T1611), Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions (T1547.006) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A contained executable was executed by the Linux kernel thread daemon. This behavior is suspicious as it may be a result of an attacker attempting to escape from a container, as the kernel thread daemon is usually used to spawn kernel processes only.
**Attacker's Goals**
Gain high privileged command execution on the host machine via one of its running containers.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what actions were made after the suspicious file execution.
* Investigate the contained process and its process tree.
A contained executable was executed by an unusual process
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Escape to Host (T1611), Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions (T1547.006) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A Docker-contained executable from a mounted share on a cloud machine was executed on a host. Running a contained executable is highly dangerous and atypical.
**Attacker's Goals**
Gain high privileged command execution on the host machine via one of its running containers.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what actions were made after the suspicious file execution.
* Investigate the contained process and its process tree.
---
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