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")
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 |
|---|---|
| lolbas-project.github.io/# | 12from 3 sources |
| www.sans.org/presentations/lolbin-detection-methods-seven-common-attacks-revealed/ | 3 |
From the source
- Tagged by the source as
- APT37 Rustonotto and FadeStealerFake CAPTCHA CampaignsGhostRedirector IIS Module and Rungan BackdoorHellcat RansomwareLiving Off The LandMalicious Inno Setup LoaderNetSupport RMM Tool AbuseWater GamayunEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securitynetwork
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 5, 2026
- Version
- 2
See also
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