Detectors

Every Cortex detection rule the toolbox knows about — analytics alerts, BIOCs and correlation rules — in one filterable set.

43 detectors match the current filters.

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Type Name Severity Module Data source / event ATT&CK
Analytics BIOC A rare FTP user has been detected on an existing FTP server A rare or new FTP user has been detected on an existing FTP server. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Initial Access, Collection
Analytics BIOC A user accessed an uncommon AppID A user accessed an uncommon AppID that is rarely accessed by them or anyone else in the organization. Informational Identity Threat Detection (ITDR) Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall traffic Logs, XDR Agent Exfiltration
Analytics A user accessed multiple time-consuming websites A user was observed visiting multiple domains for personal reasons. Time theft happens when an employee is paid to work but did not actually work during that time. It might affect your business as it reduces the employee's efficiency. Informational Identity Threat Detection (ITDR), SaaS Threat Detection Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Reconnaissance
Analytics BIOC Abnormal communication with a rare combination of TLS and HTTP User Agent Abnormal communication with a rare combination of TLS and HTTP User Agent to an external address. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control, Exfiltration
Analytics BIOC Abnormal network communication with a rare combination of HTTP User Agent and HTTP Server Abnormal network communication with a rare combination of HTTP User Agent and HTTP Server to an external address. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control, Exfiltration
Analytics Abnormal RPC traffic to multiple hosts The endpoint performed unfamiliar RPC activity to multiple hosts. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Reconnaissance
Analytics Abnormal sensitive RPC traffic to multiple hosts The endpoint performed unfamiliar RPC activity to multiple hosts using a known sensitive interface. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement
Analytics Abnormal sensitive RPC traffic to multiple hosts from a rarely seen host The endpoint performed unfamiliar RPC activity to multiple hosts using a known sensitive interface. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Bronze-Bit exploit A forwardable Kerberos ticket for delegation of a Protected User was observed. High Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Execution
Analytics DNS Tunneling 10 KB or more were sent encoded in subdomain names during a 10-minute window. All subdomains queried were under a single suspicious domain. DNS tunneling encodes data in DNS queries and responses, allowing an attacker to bypass firewalls and proxies to reach his or her command and control server, even when HTTP/S traffic is blocked. The endpoint may be remotely controlled by an attacker, and/or an attacker may have exfiltrated data from it. This detector is not supported when networking events arrive solely from Cortex XDR Linux agents. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control, Exfiltration
Analytics Failed DNS The endpoint is performing DNS lookups that are failing at an excessively high rate when compared to its peer group. This alert might be symptomatic of malware that is trying to connect to its command and control (C2) servers. The attacker's C2 server runs on one or more domains that can eventually be identified and blacklisted. To avoid this, malware will sometimes use Domain Generation Algorithms (DGA) that produce many domain names every day. Because only a few of these domains are ever registered, the installed malware must blindly try to access each generated domain name in an effort to locate an active one. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control
Analytics BIOC Failed Login For a Long Username With Special Characters A long username containing special characters failed to log in to the domain. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Initial Access
Analytics BIOC FTP Connection Using an Anonymous Login or Default Credentials An FTP connection using an anonymous login was detected. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Initial Access, Credential Access
Analytics HTTP with suspicious characteristics Uncommon HTTP communication was performed by the host that might indicate its attempt to hide malicious activities. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control, Exfiltration
Analytics Increase in Job-Related Site Visits A user has visited multiple job-related sites in the past day. Informational Identity Threat Detection (ITDR), SaaS Threat Detection Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Reconnaissance
Analytics Massive upload to a rare storage or mail domain A large amount of data was transferred to an external site that is used for mail or storage. This behavior may indicate data exfiltration. Informational Identity Threat Detection (ITDR), SaaS Threat Detection Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs, XDR Agent Exfiltration
Analytics Multiple Suspicious FTP Login Attempts Multiple suspicious FTP sessions were detected, which may indicate a brute-force attempt. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Initial Access, Credential Access
Analytics BIOC Multiple uncommon SSH Servers with the same Server host key Multiple uncommon SSH servers were observed using the same host key. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Credential Access
Analytics BIOC Okta FastPass reported phishing attack suspected Okta FastPass authentication reported a phishing attack suspected. Low Identity Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs Initial Access
Analytics BIOC Possible path traversal via HTTP request The endpoint received a suspicious URI via an HTTP request that resembles a path traversal attempt. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Discovery
Analytics Random-Looking Domain Names The endpoint performed DNS lookups to an excessively large number of apparently random root domain names. This alert might be symptomatic of malware that is trying to connect to its command and control (C2) servers. The attacker's C2 server runs on one or more domains that can eventually be identified and blacklisted. To avoid this, malware will sometimes use Domain Generation Algorithms (DGA) that produce many unique, random-looking domain names every day. Because only a few of these domains are ever registered, the installed malware must blindly try to access each generated domain name in an effort to locate an active one, which may also trigger the Failed DNS alert. Medium Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control
Analytics Rare access to known advertising domains The endpoint performed many connections to unpopular advertising domains. This could indicate the presence of adware on the endpoint. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control, Persistence
Analytics BIOC Rare DCOM RPC activity The endpoint performed abnormal DCOM RPC activity to a remote host. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement
Analytics Rare LDAP enumeration Possible LDAP enumeration with a rare combination of queries. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Discovery
Analytics BIOC Rare MS-Update Server was detected The endpoint requested an MS-Update operation from a rare update server. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Initial Access
Analytics BIOC Rare MS-Update traffic over HTTP The endpoint requested an MS-Update operation with abnormal HTTP traffic characteristics. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Rare NTLM Usage by User Rare authentication by user account to host via NTLM. The user has not authenticated with NTLM in the past 30 days. This may be indicative of downgrade attacks from Kerberos to NTLM. Informational Identity Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Rare Remote Service (SVCCTL) RPC activity The endpoint performed abnormal RPC activity via Service Control Manager interface to a remote host. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Rare Scheduled Task RPC activity The endpoint performed abnormal Scheduled Task RPC activity to a remote host. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement, Persistence
Analytics BIOC Rare Scheduled Task RPC activity from a rarely seen host The endpoint performed abnormal Scheduled Task RPC activity to a remote host. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement, Persistence
Analytics BIOC Rare Windows Remote Management (WinRM) HTTP Activity The endpoint performed unfamiliar WinRM HTTP activity to a remote host. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Recurring access to rare domain The endpoint is periodically connecting to an external domain (categorized as malware) that it and its peers rarely use. Access to this domain has occurred repeatedly over multiple days. This connection pattern is consistent with malware connecting to its command and control server for updates and operating instructions. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, Palo Alto Networks Firewall threat Logs, XDR Agent, Third-Party Firewalls Command and Control
Analytics Subdomain Fuzzing The root domain within the network is experiencing an unusually high number of access requests to its subdomains, significantly exceeding the typical activity levels for that domain. This anomaly could suggest that someone is attempting to enumerate subdomains or uncover additional virtual hosts associated with the domain, possibly as part of a reconnaissance effort to identify vulnerable or less-secured entry points into the network. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Reconnaissance
Analytics BIOC Suspicious Encrypting File System Remote call (EFSRPC) to domain controller An Encrypting File System Remote call (EFSRPC) was made to a domain controller. Medium Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Suspicious failed HTTP request - potential Spring4Shell exploit A potentially malicious failed HTTP request was received, possibly as part of a Spring4Shell exploitation attempt. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Initial Access
Analytics BIOC Suspicious HTTP parameters detected The endpoint received suspicious HTTP parameters via an HTTP request, which may indicate attempts to exploit server components or web shell activity. Medium Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Initial Access, Persistence
Analytics BIOC Suspicious ICMP packet An ICMP router advertisement was sent by a host. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Command and Control
Analytics BIOC Suspicious NTLM authentication with machine account A suspicious NTLM authentication attempt was made by a machine account. Informational Identity Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Credential Access
Analytics BIOC Suspicious SSH Downgrade 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. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Lateral Movement, Defense Evasion
Analytics Uncommon WPAD queries There were multiple attempts to access WPAD resources by a single host in your network. This may indicate a malicious activity. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Credential Access
Analytics BIOC Unique client computer model was detected via MS-Update protocol A unique client computer model was detected via MS-Update protocol. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs Initial Access
Analytics BIOC Unusual ADFS Remote Synchronization network connections from non-ADFS server Detected an unauthorized configuration sync request to the ADFS Policy Store from a non-ADFS server, step for forging SAML tokens in a Golden SAML attack. Low Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Credential Access, Lateral Movement
Analytics BIOC Weakly-Encrypted Kerberos TGT Response A weakly encrypted Kerberos TGT was issued by a domain controller. The encryption type is abnormal for this DC and results in a TGT that is easier to crack. This behavior may indicate a Skeleton Key attack. Informational Platform Analytics Palo Alto Networks Firewall EAL Logs, XDR Agent Credential Access, Defense Evasion, Persistence