The "Suspicious Remote Execution" detection identifies unusual activity where internal hosts use protocols such as SMB or DCE/RPC to execute remote code. This detection is critical as remote execution capabilities are commonly exploited by attackers to move laterally within a network.
An attacker controlling a compromised host may attempt lateral movement to execute malicious code on connected systems. This tactic is typically employed to establish deeper footholds, escalate privileges, or disrupt operations through malware deployment or data exfiltration.
Legitimate software, especially system management tools, may use remote execution RPCs for updates, troubleshooting, or configuration changes. Newly installed or rarely used software can also exhibit similar behavior, prompting the detection.
If this detection indicates a genuine threat, the organization faces significant risks:
Enables attackers to propagate malware or gain access to critical systems, heightening the risk of widespread compromise.
Targets with remote execution capabilities are high-value assets, making their compromise significantly impactful.
Increases the risk of malicious code causing outages, affecting business continuity and financial stability.
Confirm whether the flagged host should legitimately use RPCs for remote execution.
Check if the user account associated with the activity holds administrative privileges. Validate login activity on the triggering host.
Use tools like netstat
and tasklist
on Windows systems to identify which process initiated the RPC request.
Validate that the initiating process is authorized and appropriately configured for the host environment.
Suspicious RPC requests for remote execution, often linked to unauthorized software or malicious actors.
SMB and DCE/RPC are the most common protocols flagged.
Windows utilities like netstat and tasklist are helpful.
No, it is often essential for legitimate administrative tasks but should be tightly controlled and monitored.
It can be, especially if attackers exploit remote execution for lateral movement.
Yes, system management tools or infrequent software can sometimes cause this alert.
Cross-check host activities, user roles, and software legitimacy.
Yes, administrative accounts and their activities are more prone to such detections.
Network logs and host-level process activity are key to investigation.
Yes, integrating threat intelligence feeds can help correlate suspicious RPC activities with known attack patterns.