> 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/exchange-inbox-forwarding-rule-configured.md).
# Exchange inbox forwarding rule configured
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Office 365 Audit |
| Detection Modules | Identity Threat Module, Email |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009), Exfiltration (TA0010) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Email Collection: Email Forwarding Rule (T1114.003), Automated Exfiltration (T1020), Email Collection (T1114) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A user configured an Exchange inbox forwarding rule, which forwards emails that meet specific conditions.
### Attacker's Goals
Create an inbox rule using a compromised user account to automatically forward emails containing specific conditions to an external recipient.
### Investigative actions
* Check what conditions are met in the inbox rule (e.g. specific keywords in the subject or body).
* Determine if any of the conditions and keywords look suspicious.
* Look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
* Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
* Investigate the IP address associated with the rule.
* Follow further actions done by the account.
* Check for a possible phishing campaign on the organization.
* Look for emails sent to this recipient by other users.
### Variations
Exchange inbox forwarding rule configured by a delegate user
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009), Exfiltration (TA0010) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Email Collection: Email Forwarding Rule (T1114.003), Automated Exfiltration (T1020), Email Collection (T1114) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A user configured an Exchange inbox forwarding rule, which forwards emails that meet specific conditions. The user who set the forwarding is a delegated user, who performed this action on behalf of another user.
**Attacker's Goals**
Create an inbox rule using a compromised user account to automatically forward emails containing specific conditions to an external recipient.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what conditions are met in the inbox rule (e.g. specific keywords in the subject or body).
* Determine if any of the conditions and keywords look suspicious.
* Look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
* Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
* Investigate the IP address associated with the rule.
* Follow further actions done by the account.
* Check for a possible phishing campaign on the organization.
* Look for emails sent to this recipient by other users.
Suspicious Exchange inbox forwarding rule configured
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009), Exfiltration (TA0010) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Email Collection: Email Forwarding Rule (T1114.003), Automated Exfiltration (T1020), Email Collection (T1114) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A user configured an Exchange inbox forwarding rule, which forwards emails that meet specific conditions.
**Attacker's Goals**
Create an inbox rule using a compromised user account to automatically forward emails containing specific conditions to an external recipient.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what conditions are met in the inbox rule (e.g. specific keywords in the subject or body).
* Determine if any of the conditions and keywords look suspicious.
* Look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
* Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
* Investigate the IP address associated with the rule.
* Follow further actions done by the account.
* Check for a possible phishing campaign on the organization.
* Look for emails sent to this recipient by other users.
External Exchange inbox forwarding rule configured
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009), Exfiltration (TA0010) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Email Collection: Email Forwarding Rule (T1114.003), Automated Exfiltration (T1020), Email Collection (T1114) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A user configured an Exchange inbox forwarding rule, which forwards emails that meet specific conditions. The rule forwards emails to a public domain, which may be a sign of compromise.
**Attacker's Goals**
Create an inbox rule using a compromised user account to automatically forward emails containing specific conditions to an external recipient.
**Investigative actions**
* Check what conditions are met in the inbox rule (e.g. specific keywords in the subject or body).
* Determine if any of the conditions and keywords look suspicious.
* Look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
* Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
* Investigate the IP address associated with the rule.
* Follow further actions done by the account.
* Check for a possible phishing campaign on the organization.
* Look for emails sent to this recipient by other users.
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