> 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-suspicious-direct-syscall-was-executed.md).
# A suspicious direct syscall was executed
### 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 with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| Detector Tags | Direct Syscall Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Native API (T1106) |
| Severity | Low |
### Description
A suspicious direct syscall was executed.
### Attacker's Goals
An attacker might try to use direct syscalls to evade detection from a legitimate program.
### Investigative actions
* Investigate the direct syscall-mapped image to verify if it is malicious.
* Check if this direct syscall is part of the process execution flow.
### Variations
A suspicious direct syscall was executed by unsigned process from a user folder
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Native API (T1106) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A suspicious direct syscall was executed by unsigned process from a user folder.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker might try to use direct syscalls to evade detection from a legitimate program.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the direct syscall-mapped image to verify if it is malicious.
* Check if this direct syscall is part of the process execution flow.
A suspicious direct syscall was executed by a DLL host application
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Native API (T1106) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A suspicious direct syscall was executed by a DLL host application.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker might try to use direct syscalls to evade detection from a legitimate program.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the direct syscall-mapped image to verify if it is malicious.
* Check if this direct syscall is part of the process execution flow.
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