Detection rules › Elastic
Potential SIP Extension Enumeration
Identifies SIP OPTIONS requests targeting many distinct extension values from a single client within two minutes. Attackers and VoIP scanners use OPTIONS sweeps to discover valid users before REGISTER brute force, toll fraud, or registration hijacking attempts.
Known false positives
- Some legitimate provisioning or monitoring tools enumerate extensions during onboarding. Validate the source against known PBX management systems before closing.
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Reconnaissance | |
| Discovery |
Rule body
[metadata]
creation_date = "2026/07/30"
integration = ["network_traffic"]
maturity = "production"
min_stack_comments = "Requires ES|QL JSON_EXTRACT on _source to read SIP fields across current and legacy schemas."
min_stack_version = "9.4.0"
updated_date = "2026/07/31"
[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
Identifies SIP OPTIONS requests targeting many distinct extension values from a single client within two minutes.
Attackers and VoIP scanners use OPTIONS sweeps to discover valid users before REGISTER brute force, toll fraud, or
registration hijacking attempts.
"""
false_positives = [
"""
Some legitimate provisioning or monitoring tools enumerate extensions during onboarding. Validate the source against
known PBX management systems before closing.
""",
]
from = "now-9m"
language = "esql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
max_signals = 5
name = "Potential SIP Extension Enumeration"
note = """## Triage and analysis
### Investigating Potential SIP Extension Enumeration
SIP OPTIONS is commonly used for capability discovery. Attack tools such as SIPvicious send OPTIONS across sequential or randomized extensions to map valid users. High cardinality of `Esql.to_user` values from one client IP is a strong reconnaissance signal on VoIP segments.
### Possible investigation steps
- Review `Esql.sample_extensions` for sequential or patterned usernames indicative of scanning.
- Inspect `Esql.user_agents` for scanner strings such as `friendly-scanner` or SIPvicious variants.
- Check for follow-on REGISTER or INVITE activity from the same source within the next hour.
- Confirm whether `Esql.client_ip` is an expected management or monitoring host for the `Esql.server_ip` PBX/SBC.
### False positive analysis
- PBX auto-provisioning, extension audits, or SBC health checks may generate OPTIONS to many extensions from a fixed management IP. Add exceptions for those sources only after documenting the tool and schedule.
### Response and remediation
- Block the scanning `Esql.client_ip` at the SBC or perimeter firewall if the activity is unauthorized.
- Enforce SIP authentication and rate limits on the targeted PBX/SBC.
- Hunt for subsequent credential access or toll-fraud INVITE patterns from the same source.
"""
references = ["https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1595/", "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1046/"]
risk_score = 47
rule_id = "e7bf9314-f346-45b5-a6ed-044dc3b839c8"
setup = """## Setup
This rule requires the Elastic **network_traffic** integration with the **SIP** protocol module enabled on a sensor that
observes VoIP signaling traffic. SIP monitoring uses UDP port 5060 by default. Enable the integration's **Use TCP**
option when the monitored environment carries plaintext SIP over TCP; Packetbeat monitors the selected transport.
The rule requires decoded SIP headers. SIP over TLS (commonly TCP 5061) is not visible unless the sensor receives
decrypted traffic or observes plaintext SIP after TLS termination. SRTP encryption does not affect this rule when SIP
signaling remains visible.
"""
severity = "medium"
tags = [
"Domain: Network",
"Use Case: Threat Detection",
"Use Case: Network Security Monitoring",
"Tactic: Discovery",
"Tactic: Reconnaissance",
"Data Source: Network Packet Capture",
"Resources: Investigation Guide",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "esql"
query = '''
from logs-network_traffic.sip-*, packetbeat-* metadata _source
| eval
Esql.method = TO_UPPER(COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.method"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.method")
)),
Esql.to_user = COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.to.uri.username"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.to.uri.username")
),
Esql.user_agent = COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.user_agent.original"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.user_agent.original")
),
Esql.client_ip = COALESCE(client.ip, source.ip),
Esql.server_ip = COALESCE(server.ip, destination.ip)
| where
Esql.method == "OPTIONS" and
Esql.to_user is not null and
Esql.client_ip is not null and
Esql.server_ip is not null
| eval Esql.time_window = DATE_TRUNC(2 minutes, @timestamp)
| stats
Esql.distinct_extensions = COUNT_DISTINCT(Esql.to_user),
Esql.request_count = COUNT(*),
Esql.sample_extensions = MV_SLICE(VALUES(Esql.to_user), 0, 20),
Esql.user_agents = MV_SLICE(VALUES(Esql.user_agent), 0, 10)
by Esql.time_window, Esql.client_ip, Esql.server_ip
| where Esql.distinct_extensions >= 20
| keep Esql.*
'''
[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1046"
name = "Network Service Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1046/"
[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0007"
name = "Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/"
[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1595"
name = "Active Scanning"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1595/"
[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0043"
name = "Reconnaissance"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0043/"
[rule.alert_suppression]
group_by = ["Esql.client_ip", "Esql.server_ip"]
missing_fields_strategy = "suppress"
[rule.alert_suppression.duration]
unit = "h"
value = 1
Stages and Predicates
Stage 1: from
from logs-network_traffic.sip-*, packetbeat-* metadata _source
Stage 2: eval
| eval
Esql.method = TO_UPPER(COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.method"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.method")
)),
Esql.to_user = COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.to.uri.username"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.to.uri.username")
),
Esql.user_agent = COALESCE(
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "network_traffic.sip.user_agent.original"),
JSON_EXTRACT(_source, "sip.user_agent.original")
),
Esql.client_ip = COALESCE(client.ip, source.ip),
Esql.server_ip = COALESCE(server.ip, destination.ip)
Stage 3: where
| where
Esql.method == "OPTIONS" and
Esql.to_user is not null and
Esql.client_ip is not null and
Esql.server_ip is not null
Stage 4: eval
| eval Esql.time_window = DATE_TRUNC(2 minutes, @timestamp)
Stage 5: stats
| stats
Esql.distinct_extensions = COUNT_DISTINCT(Esql.to_user),
Esql.request_count = COUNT(*),
Esql.sample_extensions = MV_SLICE(VALUES(Esql.to_user), 0, 20),
Esql.user_agents = MV_SLICE(VALUES(Esql.user_agent), 0, 10)
by Esql.time_window, Esql.client_ip, Esql.server_ip
Stage 6: where
| where Esql.distinct_extensions >= 20
Stage 7: keep
| keep Esql.*
Indicators
These rows show field, operator, and value matches.
Output fields
These fields are emitted when the rule matches.
| Field | Source |
|---|---|
Esql.* | KEEP Esql.* |