Direct Outbound SMB Connectionedit

Identifies unexpected processes making network connections over port 445. Windows File Sharing is typically implemented over Server Message Block (SMB), which communicates between hosts using port 445. When legitimate, these network connections are established by the kernel. Processes making 445/tcp connections may be port scanners, exploits, or suspicious user-level processes moving laterally.

Rule type: query

Rule indices:

  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Windows

Version: 4 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.6.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.9.1

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License

Rule queryedit

event.category:network and event.type:connection and
destination.port:445 and not process.pid:4 and not
destination.ip:(127.0.0.1 or "::1")

Threat mappingedit

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version historyedit

Version 4 (7.9.1 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 3 (7.9.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.action:"Network connection detected (rule: NetworkConnect)" and
    destination.port:445 and not process.pid:4 and not
    destination.ip:(127.0.0.1 or "::1")
Version 2 (7.7.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.action:"Network connection detected (rule: NetworkConnect)" and
    destination.port:445 and not process.pid:4 and not
    destination.ip:("127.0.0.1" or "::1")