> 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-distributed-file-system-namespace-management-dfsnm-abuse.md).

# Possible Distributed File System Namespace Management (DFSNM) abuse

### 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 with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)                                                                |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Credential Access (TA0006)                                                                                  |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Forced Authentication (T1187), Adversary-in-the-Middle: Name Resolution Poisoning and SMB Relay (T1557.001) |
| Severity             | High                                                                                                        |

### Description

A possible abuse of Distributed File System Namespace Management (DFSNM).

### Attacker's Goals

* An attacker can abuse the Distributed File System Namespace Management protocol to coerce an authentication from a DC.
* This authentication can later be used for obtaining a DC certificate for DCSync.

### Investigative actions

* Check for a suspicious process on the initiator.
* Check if the source host is a vulnerability scanner.
* Look for unusual AD CS certificate requests.
* Check for possible DCSync alerts.


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