Windows Potential Cloudflared Tunnel Execution
This analytic detects command-line arguments associated with the cloudflared client used to create Cloudflare tunnels. Cloudflared is functionally very similar to ngrok, an ingress-as-a-service tool. Cloudflared…
Description
This analytic detects command-line arguments associated with the cloudflared client used to create Cloudflare tunnels. Cloudflared is functionally very similar to ngrok, an ingress-as-a-service tool. Cloudflared reaches out to the Cloudflare Edge Servers, creating an outbound connection over HTTPS(HTTP2/QUIC), where the tunnel's controller makes services or private networks accessible.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- Some legitimate use cases include authorized DevOps or IT teams using Cloudflared for secure remote access and network management. Filter alerts based on approved usage and trusted users.
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 |
|---|---|
| github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared | 7from 2 sources |
| www-bleepingcomputer-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-increasingly-abuse-cloudflare-tunnels-for-stealthy-connections/amp/ | 2 |
| www.guidepointsecurity.com/blog/tunnel-vision-cloudflared-abused-in-the-wild/ | 7from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 2e29b58e-0f5a-42fc-b435-0fdce8862831
- Tagged by the source as
- Reverse Network ProxyEndpointendpointSplunk 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
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1