PsExec Network Connection
editPsExec Network Connection
editIdentifies use of the SysInternals tool PsExec.exe making a network
connection. This could be an indication of lateral movement.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- winlogbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.*
Severity: low
Risk score: 21
Runs every: 5 minutes
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
Tags:
- Elastic
- Host
- Windows
- Threat Detection
- Execution
Version: 5 (version history)
Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.6.0
Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.10.0
Rule authors: Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License
Potential false positives
editPsExec is a dual-use tool that can be used for benign or malicious activity. It’s important to baseline your environment to determine the amount of noise to expect from this tool.
Rule query
editsequence by process.entity_id [process where process.name : "PsExec.exe" and event.type == "start"] [network where process.name : "PsExec.exe"]
Threat mapping
editFramework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
-
Technique:
- Name: Service Execution
- ID: T1035
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1035/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Lateral Movement
- ID: TA0008
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/
-
Technique:
- Name: Service Execution
- ID: T1035
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1035/
Rule version history
edit- Version 5 (7.10.0 release)
-
-
Updated query, changed from:
event.category:network and event.type:connection and process.name:PsExec.exe
-
- Version 4 (7.9.1 release)
-
- Formatting only
- Version 3 (7.9.0 release)
-
-
Updated query, changed from:
process.name:PsExec.exe and event.action:"Network connection detected (rule: NetworkConnect)"
-
- Version 2 (7.7.0 release)
-
-
Updated query, changed from:
process.name:PsExec.exe and event.action:"Network connection detected (rule: NetworkConnect)"
-