> 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-wmi-process-execution.md).

# Remote WMI process execution

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                                           |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                                         |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                                         |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)                                                              |
| Deduplication Period | 3 Days                                                                          |
| Required Data        | XDR Agent                                                                       |
| Detector Tags        | Impacket Analytics                                                              |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Lateral Movement (TA0008)                                                       |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Remote Services (T1021), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity             | Medium                                                                          |

### Description

A host that rarely initiates WMI to other remote hosts triggered a remote process execution by using WMI RPC.

### 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 RPC call from the source host and understand which process or software initiated it.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Suspicious remote WMI process execution</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                           |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Lateral Movement (TA0008)                                                       |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services (T1021), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity          | High                                                                            |

**Description**

A host that rarely initiates WMI to other remote hosts triggered a suspicious remote process execution by using WMI RPC.

**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 RPC call from the source host and understand which process or software initiated it.

</details>


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