> 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/external-login-password-spray.md).
# External Login Password Spray
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | 1 Hour |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent |
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a host within a short period of time. This may have resulted from a login password spray attack.
### Attacker's Goals
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
### Investigative actions
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
### Variations
External Login Password Spray Involving a Honey User
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a host within a short period of time. This may have resulted from a login password spray attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
External Login Password Spray from Multiple Source Hosts
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a host within a short period of time. This may have resulted from a login password spray attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
Successful External Login Password Spray on a Domain Controller
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a domain controller within a short period of time.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
Successful External Login Password Spray on a sensitive server
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a sensitive server within a short period of time.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
Successful External Login Password Spray
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a host within a short period of time. This may have resulted from a login password spray attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
External Login Password Spray on a Domain Controller
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
An abnormally high amount of user account login attempts were seen on a domain controller within a short period of time.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the amount of time in between each login attempt.
* Investigate the reason behind the login failures and if any accounts were locked out.
* Look for any successful login attempts and the ratio of login success versus login failures.
---
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