Applied Cybernetics Group
T1049 System Network Connections Discovery
- Technique
T1049- Tactics
- Discovery
- Research, 90 days
- 1
- KEV CVEs mapped
- 1
- SigmaHQ rules
- 9
- Elastic, Splunk
- 17
- thrunt rules
- 0
- Upstream
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1049
MITRE description
Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of network connections to or from the compromised system they are currently accessing or from remote systems by querying for information over the network. An adversary who gains access to a system that is part of a cloud-based environment may map out Virtual Private Clouds or Virtual Networks in order to determine what systems and services are connected. The actions performed are likely the same types of discovery techniques depending on the operating system, but the resulting information may include details about the networked cloud environment relevant to the adversary's goals. Cloud providers may have different ways in which their virtual networks operate.(Citation: Amazon AWS VPC Guide)(Citation: Microsoft Azure Virtual Network Overview)(Citation: Google VPC Overview) Similarly, adversaries who gain access to network devices may also perform similar discovery activities to gather information about connected systems and services. Utilities and commands that acquire this information include [netstat](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0104), "net use," and "net session" with [Net](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0039). In Mac and Linux, [netstat](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0104) and <code>lsof</code> can be used to list current connections. <code>who -a</code> and <code>w</code> can be used to show which users are currently logged in, similar to "net session". Additionally, built-in features native to network devices and [Network Device CLI](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/008) may be used (e.g. <code>show ip sockets</code>, <code>show tcp brief</code>).(Citation: US-CERT-TA18-106A) On ESXi servers, the command `esxi network ip connection list` can be used to list active network connections.(Citation: Sygnia ESXi Ransomware 2025)
KEV CVEs mapped to this technique
MITRE CTID maps these KEV CVEs to this technique by hand. They are the actively exploited vulnerabilities behind this technique's KEV signal.
Research citing this technique
Reports and advisories from the last 90 days that cite this technique.
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2026-10-22Group-IB: Inside SiriusQT: A Seriously Skilled RAT
Detection coverage
SigmaHQ community rules
- Potential Pikabot Discovery Activity (emerging-threats)
- Net.EXE Execution (threat-hunting)
- System Network Connections Discovery - Linux (core)
- System Network Connections Discovery - MacOs (core)
- Cisco Discovery (core)
- Use Get-NetTCPConnection (core)
- Use Get-NetTCPConnection - PowerShell Module (core)
- HackTool - SharpView Execution (core)
- System Network Connections Discovery Via Net.EXE (core)
Elastic and Splunk rules
- DNS Enumeration Detected via Defend for Containers (elastic)
- Suspicious System Commands Executed by Previously Unknown Executable (elastic)
- Unusual Linux Network Connection Discovery (elastic)
- Enumeration Command Spawned via WMIPrvSE (elastic)
- Suspicious JetBrains TeamCity Child Process (elastic)
- Suspicious MS Office Child Process (elastic)
- Deprecated - PowerShell Script with Discovery Capabilities (elastic)
- System Network Connections Discovery (elastic)
- Windows System Network Connections Discovery (elastic)
- GetNetTcpconnection with PowerShell (splunk)
- GetNetTcpconnection with PowerShell Script Block (splunk)
- Network Connection Discovery With Arp (splunk)
- Network Connection Discovery With Netstat (splunk)
- Windows Common Abused Cmd Shell Risk Behavior (splunk)
- Windows Network Connection Discovery Via Net (splunk)
- Windows Post Exploitation Risk Behavior (splunk)
- Windows System Network Connections Discovery Netsh (splunk)