> 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/suspicious-setspn-exe-execution.md).

# Suspicious setspn.exe 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                               |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Credential Access (TA0006)              |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets (T1558) |
| Severity             | Low                                     |

### Description

A Service Principal Name (SPN) is a unique identifier for a service, mapped to a specific account. Setspn.exe can be used to retrieve SPN information, which may indicate an attacker's attempt to "Kerberoast".

### Attacker's Goals

Retrieving SPN information to perform related attacks like 'Kerberoast'.

### Investigative actions

* Investigate the user who executed setspn.exe and find out if the act was malicious.


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