A mail forwarding rule was configured in Google Workspace

Cortex XDR Analytics Alert Reference by data source

Product
Cortex XDR
Last date published
2024-12-03
Category
Analytics Alert Reference
Order
data source

Synopsis

Activation Period

14 Days

Training Period

30 Days

Test Period

N/A (single event)

Deduplication Period

2 Days

Required Data

  • Requires:
    • Google Workspace Audit Logs

Detection Modules

Identity Threat Module

Detector Tags

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Severity

Medium

Description

A rule was set up to forward emails outside the Google Workspace domain.

Attacker's Goals

  • Adversaries may abuse email forwarding rules to monitor the activities of a victim, steal information, and further gain intelligence on the victim or the victim's organization to use as part of further exploits or operations.
  • Furthermore, email forwarding rules can allow adversaries to maintain persistent access to victim's emails even after compromised credentials are reset by administrators.

Investigative actions

  • Check if the identity intended to preform this action,
  • and look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
  • Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
  • Follow further actions done by the account.

Variations

A mail forwarding rule was configured in Google Workspace to an uncommon domain

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Severity

High

Description

A rule was set up to forward emails outside the Google Workspace domain.

Attacker's Goals

  • Adversaries may abuse email forwarding rules to monitor the activities of a victim, steal information, and further gain intelligence on the victim or the victim's organization to use as part of further exploits or operations.
  • Furthermore, email forwarding rules can allow adversaries to maintain persistent access to victim's emails even after compromised credentials are reset by administrators.

Investigative actions

  • Check if the identity intended to preform this action,
  • and look for signs that the user account and mailbox are compromised (e.g. abnormal logins, unusual activity).
  • Check if the forwarding domain is an unknown external domain and look up its reputation.
  • Follow further actions done by the account.