> 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/remote-dcom-command-execution.md).
# Remote DCOM command execution
### 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 |
| Detector Tags | Impacket Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (T1021.003) |
| Severity | Low |
### Description
A remotely triggered DCOM initiated a command execution by a host that rarely executes processes using DCOM to other remote hosts.
### Attacker's Goals
Perform lateral movement to new hosts to expand the foothold within a network.
### Investigative actions
* Investigate the processes being spawned on the host for malicious activities.
* Correlate the DCOM call from the source host and understand which software initiated it.
### Variations
Remote suspicious DCOM-MMC20.Application command execution
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (T1021.003) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A remotely triggered suspicious DCOM-MMC20.Application initiated a command execution by a host that rarely executes processes using DCOM to other remote hosts.
**Attacker's Goals**
Perform lateral movement to new hosts to expand the foothold within a network.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the processes being spawned on the host for malicious activities.
* Correlate the DCOM call from the source host and understand which software initiated it.
Remote suspicious DCOM-Excel.Application command execution
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (T1021.003) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A remotely triggered suspicious DCOM-Excel.Application initiated a command execution by a host that rarely executes processes using DCOM to other remote hosts.
**Attacker's Goals**
Perform lateral movement to new hosts to expand the foothold within a network.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the processes being spawned on the host for malicious activities.
* Correlate the DCOM call from the source host and understand which software initiated it.
Remote suspicious DCOM-Outlook.Application command execution
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (T1021.003) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
A remotely triggered suspicious DCOM-Outlook.Application initiated a command execution by a host that rarely executes processes using DCOM to other remote hosts.
**Attacker's Goals**
Perform lateral movement to new hosts to expand the foothold within a network.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the processes being spawned on the host for malicious activities.
* Correlate the DCOM call from the source host and understand which software initiated it.
Remote suspicious DCOM command execution
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (T1021.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A remotely triggered suspicious DCOM initiated a command execution by a host that rarely executes processes using DCOM to other remote hosts.
**Attacker's Goals**
Perform lateral movement to new hosts to expand the foothold within a network.
**Investigative actions**
* Investigate the processes being spawned on the host for malicious activities.
* Correlate the DCOM call from the source host and understand which software initiated it.
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