> 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/possible-brute-force-attempt.md).
# Possible Brute-Force attempt
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | 15 Minutes |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent |
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006), Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force (T1110), Remote Services (T1021) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A user account attempted to authenticate to a target an excessive number of times in a short period.
* This may indicate a brute-force attack.
### Attacker's Goals
The attacker attempts to gain access to the accounts.
### Investigative actions
Verify any successful authentication by the user account referenced by the alert, as these can indicate the attacker managed to guess the credentials.
### Variations
Possible Brute-Force attempt on a Honey User Account
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006), Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force (T1110), Remote Services (T1021) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A user account attempted to authenticate to a target an excessive number of times in a short period.
* This may indicate a brute-force attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
The attacker attempts to gain access to the accounts.
**Investigative actions**
Verify any successful authentication by the user account referenced by the alert, as these can indicate the attacker managed to guess the credentials.
Possible Brute-Force attempt with a successful login and suspicious characteristics
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006), Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force (T1110), Remote Services (T1021) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A user account attempted to authenticate to a target an excessive number of times in a short period.
* This may indicate a brute-force attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
The attacker attempts to gain access to the accounts.
**Investigative actions**
Verify any successful authentication by the user account referenced by the alert, as these can indicate the attacker managed to guess the credentials.
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