Cisco NVM - Non-Network Binary Making Network Connection
This analytic detects network connections initiated by binaries that are not typically associated with network communication, such as 'notepad.exe', 'calc.exe' or 'write.exe'. It leverages Cisco Network Visibility…
Description
This analytic detects network connections initiated by binaries that are not typically associated with network communication, such as 'notepad.exe', 'calc.exe' or 'write.exe'. It leverages Cisco Network Visibility Module logs to correlate network flow activity with process context, including command-line arguments, process path, and parent process information. These applications are normally used for locally and do not require outbound network access. When they do initiate such connections, it may indicate process hollowing, code injection, or proxy execution, where adversaries abuse a trusted process to mask malicious activity.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- cisco_network_visibility_module_flow_data
Known benign triggers
- Rare cases may exist where these binaries are used by plugins or third-party extensions to initiate outbound communication. However, such behavior is extremely uncommon and should be investigated for potential injection or abuse.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/techniques/process-injection/ | 3 |
| www.blue-prints.blog/content/blog/posts/lolbin/addinutil-lolbas.html | 6from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- c6db35af-8a0e-4b61-88ed-738e66f15715
- Tagged by the source as
- Cisco Network Visibility Module AnalyticsEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Version
- 2