Scripting engine connected to a rare 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	XDR Agent
Detector Tags	EDR Windows C2 Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity	Low

Description

Scripts connecting to external IP addresses may be sanctioned IT scripts. However, when those external IP addresses are only receiving connections from a few specific endpoints in the organization, these scripts may be an indicator of more suspicious activity. Security testers and adversaries use offensive frameworks that employ forms of scripting which result in this type of network activity.

Attacker's Goals

Connect to the attacker's Command and Control server.

Investigative actions

• Check the external address the process connects to.
• Fetch and investigate the executed script.

Variations

Scripting engine failed to connect to a rare external host

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity	Informational

Description

Scripts connecting to external IP addresses may be sanctioned IT scripts. However, when those external IP addresses are only receiving connections from a few specific endpoints in the organization, these scripts may be an indicator of more suspicious activity. Security testers and adversaries use offensive frameworks that employ forms of scripting which result in this type of network activity.

Attacker's Goals

Connect to the attacker's Command and Control server.

Investigative actions

• Check the external address the process connects to.
• Fetch and investigate the executed script.

Scripting engine with a modified image name connected to a rare external host

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011), Execution (TA0002), Stealth (TA0005)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Masquerading (T1036)
Severity	Low

Description

Scripts connecting to external IP addresses may be sanctioned IT scripts. However, when those external IP addresses are only receiving connections from a few specific endpoints in the organization, these scripts may be an indicator of more suspicious activity. Security testers and adversaries use offensive frameworks that employ forms of scripting which result in this type of network activity.

Attacker's Goals

Connect to the attacker's Command and Control server.

Investigative actions

• Check the external address the process connects to.
• Fetch and investigate the executed script.

Windows LOLBIN scripting engine connected to a rare external host

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity	Medium

Description

Scripts connecting to external IP addresses may be sanctioned IT scripts. However, when those external IP addresses are only receiving connections from a few specific endpoints in the organization, these scripts may be an indicator of more suspicious activity. Security testers and adversaries use offensive frameworks that employ forms of scripting which result in this type of network activity.

Attacker's Goals

Connect to the attacker's Command and Control server.

Investigative actions

• Check the external address the process connects to.
• Fetch and investigate the executed script.