> 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-process-connected-to-a-rare-external-host.md).
# A process connected to a rare external host
### 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 | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A process connected to an external host name or directly to an IP address, which is rarely connected to from the organization.
### Attacker's Goals
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
### Investigative actions
Check whether the process was injected or otherwise subverted for malicious use.
### Variations
MSBuild process connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005), Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution: MSBuild (T1127.001), Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
MSBuild normally does not make any network connections. This unusual activity may be malicious since attackers can leverage MSBuild for code execution.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check if CGO actor process is not code developing tool (IDE) and whether the actor process subverted for malicious use.
MSBuild process connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution: MSBuild (T1127.001) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
MSBuild normally does not make any network connections. This unusual activity may be malicious since attackers can leverage MSBuild for code execution.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check if CGO actor process is not code developing tool (IDE) and whether the actor process subverted for malicious use.
LOLBIN spawned by an Office executable connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A LOLBIN run by an Office process connected to an external IP address or host, which is rarely connected to from the organization.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check whether the process was injected or otherwise subverted for malicious use.
A curl process connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A process connected to an external host name or directly to an IP address, which is rarely connected to from the organization.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check whether the process was injected or otherwise subverted for malicious use.
VSCode extension process connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A VSCode extension connected to an external IP address or host, which is rarely connected to from the organization.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check whether the process was injected or otherwise subverted for malicious use.
UNIX LOLBIN process connected to a rare external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A UNIX LOLBIN connected to an external IP address or host, which is rarely connected to from the organization.
**Attacker's Goals**
Beacon to C2 server and/or exfiltrate data.
**Investigative actions**
Check whether the process was injected or otherwise subverted for malicious use.
---
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