Rare process created an SSH session to an uncommon cloud resource

Cortex XDR Analytics Alert Reference by data source

Product
Cortex XDR
Last date published
2026-05-18
Category
Analytics Alert Reference
Index by
data source

Synopsis

Activation Period

14 Days

Training Period

30 Days

Test Period

N/A (single event)

Deduplication Period

1 Day

Required Data

  • Requires one of the following data sources:
    • Palo Alto Networks Firewall traffic Logs
      OR
    • XDR Agent
      OR
    • Third-Party Firewalls

Detection Modules

Detector Tags

EDR Windows C2 Analytics

ATT&CK Tactic

Command and Control (TA0011)

ATT&CK Technique

Application Layer Protocol (T1071)

Severity

Low

Description

A rare process created an SSH session to an uncommon cloud resource.

Attacker's Goals

Attackers may use SSH or any similar utility as a Command and Control (C2) channel or to exfiltrate data to a remote host.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the actor process and its causality.
  • Review the remote cloud asset, is it managed by the organization or a partner?
  • Search for processes or files that were accessed by this SSH instance.