PsExec Network Connection

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Identifies 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

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PsExec 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

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sequence by process.entity_id [process where process.name :
"PsExec.exe" and event.type == "start"] [network where process.name
: "PsExec.exe"]

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version history

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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)"