> 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/an-internal-cloud-resource-performed-port-scan-on-external-networks.md).

# An internal Cloud resource performed port scan on external networks

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                                                          |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                                                        |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                                                        |
| Test Period          | 1 Hour                                                                                         |
| Deduplication Period | 5 Days                                                                                         |
| Required Data        | XDR Agent                                                                                      |
| Detection Modules    | Cloud                                                                                          |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Discovery (TA0007), Impact (TA0040)                                                            |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Network Service Discovery (T1046), Resource Hijacking (T1496), Cloud Service Discovery (T1526) |
| Severity             | Medium                                                                                         |

### Description

An internal cloud resource attempted to connect to the same destination port of multiple external IP addresses. This may be a result of the cloud resource being hijacked by an attacker. Attackers perform port scans on a specific destination port for reconnaissance purposes, to detect known vulnerable services that accept connections in the specific port, and perform targeted attacks against them.

### Attacker's Goals

Detect vulnerable services, which listen on known ports and are opened to the Internet.

### Investigative actions

* Check if similar activity was performed on additional cloud resources.
* Check if similar activity was performed against additional ports and external ip addresses from the same cloud resource.
* Check which process triggered the port scanning activity and for what purpose.


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