Analytics BIOC Low
✕

Scripting engine connected to a rare external host

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.

Module:
Platform Analytics
Data source:
XDR Agent
ATT&CK tactics: Command and Control (TA0011) Execution (TA0002)
ATT&CK techniques: Application Layer Protocol (T1071) Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)
Detector tags: EDR Windows C2 Analytics
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.

Test period:
N/A (single event)
Deduplication:
1 Day
3 variations:
  • Scripting engine failed to connect to a rare external host Informational (parent: Low)
  • Scripting engine with a modified image name connected to a rare external host Low Adds Masquerading (T1036)
  • Windows LOLBIN scripting engine connected to a rare external host Medium (parent: Low)