Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host
Synopsis
Activation Period
14 Days
Training Period
30 Days
Test Period
N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period
1 Day
Required Data
XDR Agent
Detector Tags
Abnormal Communication Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
Severity
Informational
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Variations
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host by security testing tool
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
Severity
High
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host with a frequently abused TLD
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Stealth (TA0005)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Masquerading (T1036)
Severity
Medium
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility to establish a connection with a messaging service API
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Exfiltration (TA0010), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Exfiltration Over Web Service (T1567), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity
Medium
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host involving a code sharing website by a high-risk actor
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Web Service (T1102)
Severity
Medium
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host involving a code sharing website
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Web Service (T1102)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host related to LOTTunnels
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Exfiltration (TA0010), Stealth (TA0005), Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Protocol Tunneling (T1572), Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol (T1048), Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host with a rare TLD
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Stealth (TA0005)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Masquerading (T1036)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility and piping to script
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Exfiltration (TA0010), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility to download and change permission
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Exfiltration (TA0010), Execution (TA0002), Defense Impairment (TA0112), Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), File and Directory Permissions Modification (T1222), File and Directory Permissions Modification: Linux and Mac Permissions (T1222.002), Ingress Tool Transfer (T1105)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility running by an unsigned process
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Exfiltration (TA0010), Stealth (TA0005), Defense Impairment (TA0112)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Subvert Trust Controls (T1553), Masquerading (T1036)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility and saving data to a temporary folder
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Exfiltration (TA0010), Stealth (TA0005), Collection (TA0009)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Data Staged (T1074), Data Staged: Local Data Staging (T1074.001), Hide Artifacts (T1564), Indicator Removal (T1070)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility and downloading a script
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Exfiltration (TA0010), Execution (TA0002), Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Ingress Tool Transfer (T1105), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
Uncommon macOS process communication to a rare external host while using a CLI utility
Synopsis
ATT&CK Tactic
Command and Control (TA0011), Exfiltration (TA0010), Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK Technique
Application Layer Protocol (T1071), Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Severity
Low
Description
An uncommon process is connecting to an external host that is rarely accessed within the organization. This connection pattern is consistent with malicious activity such as command and control execution, malware download and so on.
Attacker's Goals
Establish a remote backdoor to issue instructions, deploy additional payloads, and maintain long-term persistence across the infected fleet.
Investigative actions
Identify the process contacting the remote host and determine whether the traffic is malicious.
Look for other endpoints on your network that are also contacting the suspicious host.
Inspect the host or URL for suspicious indicators or its presence in malicious reputation lists.
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