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LOLBAS With Network Traffic

The following analytic identifies the use of Living Off the Land Binaries and Scripts (LOLBAS) with network traffic. It leverages data from the Network Traffic data model to detect when native Windows binaries, often…

Description

The following analytic identifies the use of Living Off the Land Binaries and Scripts (LOLBAS) with network traffic. It leverages data from the Network Traffic data model to detect when native Windows binaries, often abused by adversaries, initiate network connections. This activity is significant as LOLBAS are frequently used to download malicious payloads, enabling lateral movement, command-and-control, or data exfiltration. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or maintain persistence within the environment, posing a severe threat to organizational security.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ESXiLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteSaaSWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_eventid_3

Known benign triggers

  • Legitimate usage of internal automation or scripting, especially powershell.exe or pwsh.exe, internal to internal or logon scripts. It may be necessary to omit internal IP ranges if extremely noisy. ie NOT dest_ip IN ("10.0.0.0/8","172.16.0.0/12","192.168.0.0/16","170.98.0.0/16","0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1")

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