Detect Gather Victim Network Information in Sumo Logic CSE
This detection identifies adversary reconnaissance activity targeting victim network information, including IP ranges, domain names, DNS records, network topology, and security appliance configurations. Because T1590 is a PRE-ATT&CK technique, direct detection within the victim environment is limited; however, second-order indicators are observable when adversaries deploy internal network enumeration tools post-compromise (as seen with Volt Typhoon, Indrik Spider, and HAFNIUM), attempt DNS zone transfers, execute WHOIS or DNS enumeration utilities, or run network discovery tools such as Lansweeper and Advanced IP Scanner. Detection focuses on process execution of known network reconnaissance binaries, DNS zone transfer attempts, and anomalous internal network topology queries that suggest an adversary mapping the environment for lateral movement or targeting.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Reconnaissance
- Technique
- T1590 Gather Victim Network Information
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1590/
Sumo Detection Query
(_sourceCategory=*windows* OR _sourceCategory=*sysmon* OR _sourceCategory=*endpoint* OR _sourceCategory=*wineventlog*)
| where (sourceName = "Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational" AND EventCode = 1) OR EventCode = 4688
| parse field=CommandLine "*" as commandline nodrop
| parse field=Image "*" as imagepath nodrop
| if (isNull(commandline), "", toLowerCase(commandline)) as commandlower
| if (isNull(imagepath), "", toLowerCase(imagepath)) as imagelower
| eval ReconCategory = if(matches(commandlower, "nmap|masscan|zmap|fping|nbtscan|unicornscan"), "PortHostScanning",
if(matches(commandlower, "dnsrecon|dnsenum|fierce|axfr|zone.transfer|zone-transfer"), "DNSEnumeration",
if(matches(commandlower, "lansweeper|advanced.port.scanner|angryip|netdiscover|advanced_port_scanner"), "NetworkDiscoveryTool",
if(matches(commandlower, "/dclist|/domain_trusts|/trusted_domains|/dsgetdc") AND matches(imagelower, "nltest"), "DomainTrustEnumeration",
if(matches(imagelower, "nmap\.exe|masscan\.exe|lansweeper\.exe|dnsrecon|fierce|dnsenum|zmap\.exe|nbtscan\.exe|amass\.exe|sublist3r|theharvester"), "KnownReconBinary", null())))))
| where !isNull(ReconCategory)
| eval SuspicionScore = if(ReconCategory = "PortHostScanning", 90,
if(ReconCategory = "DNSEnumeration", 85,
if(ReconCategory = "NetworkDiscoveryTool", 80,
if(ReconCategory = "DomainTrustEnumeration", 70,
if(ReconCategory = "KnownReconBinary", 75, 50)))))
| parse field=imagepath "*\\*" as imagedir, imagefilename nodrop
| parse field=ParentImage "*\\*" as parentdir, parentfilename nodrop
| fields _messageTime, Computer, User, Image, imagefilename, CommandLine, ParentImage, parentfilename, ReconCategory, SuspicionScore
| sort by SuspicionScore desc, _messageTime descDetects post-compromise network reconnaissance activity by identifying execution of known network enumeration tools and DNS zone transfer attempts consistent with T1590. Processes Sysmon EventID 1 and Windows Security EventID 4688 events, applying categorical classification and suspicion scoring aligned with the KQL/SPL baseline to support consistent cross-SIEM analyst workflows.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Authorized penetration testing exercises — scope by Computer field against an allowlist of sanctioned scan hosts and correlate with change management tickets
- Legitimate network asset management tools (Lansweeper, SolarWinds Network Discovery) running under scheduled service accounts on designated scanner hosts
- System administrators running nltest or nslookup as part of routine Active Directory diagnostics, LDAP connectivity testing, or domain join troubleshooting procedures
- Vulnerability management agents invoking nmap subprocess calls during authenticated network scanning windows
- DevOps or CI/CD pipelines in test environments running network connectivity checks using nmap or fping as part of infrastructure validation scripts
Other platforms for T1590
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Nmap Internal Subnet Port Scan
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode 1 (process create) with Image=nmap.exe, CommandLine containing the subnet range. Sysmon EventCode 3 (network connect) showing connections from nmap.exe to multiple internal IPs on specified ports. DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents telemetry in MDE.
- Test 2DNS Zone Transfer Attempt via nslookup
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode 1 with Image=nslookup.exe, CommandLine containing 'AXFR' and the target domain. Windows DNS debug log (if enabled) will show an AXFR request from the client IP. DeviceProcessEvents in MDE captures the command line.
- Test 3Domain Trust Enumeration via nltest
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode 1 (process create) for each nltest invocation with the respective flags in CommandLine. SecurityEvent EventID 4688 if process command line auditing is enabled via GPO. DeviceProcessEvents in MDE with full command line captured.
- Test 4Internal Network Discovery with Advanced IP Scanner
Expected signal: DeviceFileEvents showing advanced_ip_scanner.exe created in C:\Temp. Sysmon EventCode 11 (file create) for the binary. Process creation event for advanced_ip_scanner.exe. Network connection events to multiple internal IPs during scan. DeviceNetworkEvents in MDE showing mass internal connections.
References (5)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1590/
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa24-038a
- https://www.volexity.com/blog/2021/03/02/active-exploitation-of-microsoft-exchange-zero-day-vulnerabilities/
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/
- https://www.secureworks.com/research/indrik-spider
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