> 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/rare-process-created-an-ssh-session-to-an-uncommon-external-host.md).
# Rare process created an SSH session to an uncommon external host
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
Palo Alto Networks Firewall traffic Logs OR XDR Agent OR Third-Party Firewalls
|
| Detector Tags | EDR Windows C2 Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Low |
### Description
Rare process created an SSH session to an uncommon external host.
### Attacker's Goals
Attackers may use SSH or any similar utility to as a Command and Control (C2) channel or to exfiltrate data to a remote host.
### Investigative actions
* Investigate the actor process and its causality.
* Review the external IP/domain using known intelligence tools.
* Search for processes or files that were accessed by this SSH instance.
### Variations
Rare process created an SSH session to a domain with an uncommon TLD
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
Rare process created an SSH session to a domain with an uncommon TLD.
**Attacker's Goals**
Attackers may use SSH or any similar utility to as a Command and Control (C2) channel or to exfiltrate data to a remote host.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the actor process and its causality.
* Review the external IP/domain using known intelligence tools.
* Search for processes or files that were accessed by this SSH instance.
Rare process created an SSH session to an globally uncommon external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
Rare process created an SSH session to an globally uncommon external host.
**Attacker's Goals**
Attackers may use SSH or any similar utility to as a Command and Control (C2) channel or to exfiltrate data to a remote host.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the actor process and its causality.
* Review the external IP/domain using known intelligence tools.
* Search for processes or files that were accessed by this SSH instance.
Rare process created an SSH session to an external host
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Command and Control (TA0011) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Application Layer Protocol (T1071) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
Rare process created an SSH session to an external host.
**Attacker's Goals**
Attackers may use SSH or any similar utility to as a Command and Control (C2) channel or to exfiltrate data to a remote host.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the actor process and its causality.
* Review the external IP/domain using known intelligence tools.
* Search for processes or files that were accessed by this SSH instance.
---
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