Detection rules › Sigma
Suspicious Outbound SMTP Connections
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel. The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server.
Known false positives
- Other SMTP tools
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Exfiltration |
Telemetry coverage
| Provider | Record / event type |
|---|---|
| Sysmon | Event ID 3: Network connection |
Rule body
title: Suspicious Outbound SMTP Connections
id: 9976fa64-2804-423c-8a5b-646ade840773
status: test
description: |
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel.
The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1048.003/T1048.003.md#atomic-test-5---exfiltration-over-alternative-protocol---smtp
- https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
modified: 2022-09-21
tags:
- attack.exfiltration
- attack.t1048.003
logsource:
category: network_connection
product: windows
detection:
selection:
DestinationPort:
- 25
- 587
- 465
- 2525
Initiated: 'true'
filter_clients:
Image|endswith:
- \thunderbird.exe
- \outlook.exe
filter_mailserver:
Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\'
filter_outlook:
Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_'
Image|endswith: '\HxTsr.exe'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
- Other SMTP tools
level: medium
Stages and Predicates
Stage 0: condition
selection and not 1 of filter_*Stage 1: selection
selection:
DestinationPort:
- 25
- 587
- 465
- 2525
Initiated: 'true'
Stage 2: not filter_*
filter_clients:
Image|endswith:
- \thunderbird.exe
- \outlook.exe
filter_mailserver:
Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\'
filter_outlook:
Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_'
Image|endswith: '\HxTsr.exe'
Exclusions
The rule actively suppresses these predicates.
| Field | Kind | Excluded values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
Image | ends_with | \HxTsr.exe | excludes:Image field:"Image" value:"\HxTsr.exe" |
Image | starts_with | C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_ | excludes:Image field:"Image" value:"C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_" |
Image | ends_with | \outlook.exe | excludes:Image field:"Image" value:"\outlook.exe" |
Image | ends_with | \thunderbird.exe | excludes:Image field:"Image" value:"\thunderbird.exe" |
Image | starts_with | C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\ | excludes:Image field:"Image" value:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\" |
Indicators
These rows show field, operator, and value matches.
| Field | Kind | Values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
DestinationPort | eq |
| field:"DestinationPort" kind:eq |
Initiated | eq |
| field:"Initiated" kind:eq value:"true" |