Rare communication over email ports to external email server by unsigned process

Synopsis

Field	Value
Activation Period	14 Days
Training Period	30 Days
Test Period	N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period	1 Hour
Required Data	XDR Agent
Detector Tags	EDR Windows C2 Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique	Non-Application Layer Protocol (T1095)
Severity	Low

Description

These methods are used by malware and attackers to leak data and remain undetected.

Attacker's Goals

Attackers might use well-known email ports as a C&C channel to evade detection and firewall rules.

Investigative actions

• Check whether the initiator process is benign or normal for the host and/or user performing it.
• Check whether additional malicious commands were executed from the same process.