> 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-ssh-downgrade.md).

# Suspicious SSH Downgrade

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                  |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)                                     |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day                                                  |
| Required Data        | Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs                   |
| Detector Tags        | NDR Lateral Movement Analytics                         |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Defense Impairment (TA0112) |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Remote Services (T1021), Downgrade Attack (T1689)      |
| Severity             | Low                                                    |

### Description

The endpoint asked for an ssh downgrade, ssh downgrade may enable attackers to perform attacks such as data decryption, man in the middle, session hijack, replay attack and more.

### Attacker's Goals

* Attackers may attempt to move laterally over the network by exploiting problems in a lower version of SSH.

### Investigative actions

Audit the authentication attempts in the SSH server from the alerted host. If the source host authenticated to the SSH server, it may indicate that the attacker managed to connect to the remote host maliciously.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>A Host Performed an SSH Downgrade For The First Time In The Last 30 Days</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                  |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Defense Impairment (TA0112) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services (T1021), Downgrade Attack (T1689)      |
| Severity          | Low                                                    |

**Description**

The endpoint asked for an ssh downgrade, ssh downgrade may enable attackers to perform attacks such as data decryption, man in the middle, session hijack, replay attack and more. With a lower version than the source host used in the past.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Attackers may attempt to move laterally over the network by exploiting problems in a lower version of SSH.

**Investigative actions**

Audit the authentication attempts in the SSH server from the alerted host. If the source host authenticated to the SSH server, it may indicate that the attacker managed to connect to the remote host maliciously.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A Target Server Performed an SSH Downgrade For The First Time In The Last 30 Days</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                  |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Defense Impairment (TA0112) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Remote Services (T1021), Downgrade Attack (T1689)      |
| Severity          | Low                                                    |

**Description**

The endpoint asked for an ssh downgrade, ssh downgrade may enable attackers to perform attacks such as data decryption, man in the middle, session hijack, replay attack and more. With a lower version than the remote host used in the past.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Attackers may attempt to move laterally over the network by exploiting problems in a lower version of SSH.

**Investigative actions**

Audit the authentication attempts in the SSH server from the alerted host. If the source host authenticated to the SSH server, it may indicate that the attacker managed to connect to the remote host maliciously.

</details>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/suspicious-ssh-downgrade.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
