Windows LOLBIN executable 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)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
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.

Variations

Windows LOLBIN executable connected to a rare external host on a newly activated agent

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
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.

Windows LOLBIN executable utilizing known port to connect to a rare external host

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
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.

Windows LOLBIN executable connected to a rare external host by an RMM CGO

Synopsis

Field	Value
ATT&CK Tactic	Command and Control (TA0011)
ATT&CK Technique	Application Layer Protocol (T1071)
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. The CGO of this process was a Remote Monitoring & Management tool.

Attacker's Goals

Connect to the attacker's Command and Control server.

Investigative actions

• Check the external address the process connects to.