> 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/globally-uncommon-high-entropy-process-was-executed.md).

# Globally uncommon high entropy process 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                               |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Defense Evasion (TA0005)                |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027) |
| Severity             | Informational                           |

### Description

A process with high entropy and a globally uncommon hash was executed.

### Attacker's Goals

Adversaries may attempt to make an executable difficult to discover or analyze by compressing, encrypting, encoding, or otherwise obfuscating its contents.

### Investigative actions

Check if the process' file is either compressed, encrypted, obfuscated or packed.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Globally uncommon high entropy process was executed by a web server process or CGO</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                                                                       |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Defense Evasion (TA0005), Initial Access (TA0001), Persistence (TA0003)                                                     |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027), External Remote Services (T1133), Server Software Component: Web Shell (T1505.003) |
| Severity          | Low                                                                                                                         |

**Description**

A process with high entropy and a globally uncommon hash was executed by a web server process or CGO.

**Attacker's Goals**

Adversaries may attempt to make an executable difficult to discover or analyze by compressing, encrypting, encoding, or otherwise obfuscating its contents.

**Investigative actions**

Check if the process' file is either compressed, encrypted, obfuscated or packed.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Globally uncommon high entropy process was extracted from an internet-downloaded archive and executed</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                   |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Defense Evasion (TA0005)                |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027) |
| Severity          | Low                                     |

**Description**

A process with high entropy and a globally uncommon hash was extracted from an internet-downloaded archive and executed.

**Attacker's Goals**

Adversaries may attempt to make an executable difficult to discover or analyze by compressing, encrypting, encoding, or otherwise obfuscating its contents.

**Investigative actions**

Check if the process' file is either compressed, encrypted, obfuscated or packed.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Globally uncommon high entropy process was downloaded from an uncommon source and executed</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                   |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Defense Evasion (TA0005)                |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027) |
| Severity          | Low                                     |

**Description**

A process with high entropy and a globally uncommon hash was downloaded from an uncommon source and executed.

**Attacker's Goals**

Adversaries may attempt to make an executable difficult to discover or analyze by compressing, encrypting, encoding, or otherwise obfuscating its contents.

**Investigative actions**

Check if the process' file is either compressed, encrypted, obfuscated or packed.

</details>


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