The "File Share Enumeration" detection identifies attempts by an internal or external actor to discover shared folders and files on networked systems. This activity is often a precursor to more malicious actions, such as data exfiltration, lateral movement, or privilege escalation, as attackers gather information about available resources and their access permissions.
Scenario 1: An internal host generates multiple directory listing commands targeting various shared folders across the network. Investigation reveals that the host is compromised, and the attacker is mapping out available resources to identify sensitive data.
Scenario 2: A sudden increase in SMB traffic is detected, with multiple access attempts to administrative shares. Further analysis indicates that a security team was performing a scheduled network audit, causing the detection to trigger.
If this detection indicates a genuine threat, the organization faces significant risks:
File share enumeration can reveal sensitive or confidential information stored in network shares, leading to potential data breaches.
Knowledge of available shared resources can be used by attackers to plan further exploitation, such as lateral movement or privilege escalation.
Unauthorized access and potential tampering with shared files can disrupt business operations and lead to data integrity issues.
Review logs for patterns of directory listing commands and access attempts to shared resources. Focus on identifying the source of the enumeration activity.
Determine the internal or external host generating the enumeration traffic. Verify if the source is authorized to perform such actions.
Look for other signs of compromise or related suspicious behavior, such as malware alerts, unusual login attempts, or unauthorized data access.
Confirm if any authorized network audits, security assessments, or administrative tasks could explain the detected enumeration activity.
File Share Enumeration involves discovering shared folders and files on networked systems, often used by attackers to gather information about available resources and their access permissions.
Common signs include multiple directory listing commands, high SMB or NFS traffic, access attempts to hidden shares, and patterns of scanning for shared directories across multiple hosts.
Yes, network audits, security assessments, administrative tasks, and automated backup processes can generate behavior resembling file share enumeration.
Vectra AI uses advanced AI algorithms and machine learning to analyze network traffic and system behavior, identifying anomalies indicative of file share enumeration activities.
It can lead to data exposure, increased attack surface, and operational disruption due to unauthorized access and tampering with shared files.
Detect File Share Enumeration by monitoring for directory listing commands, unusual access attempts to shared resources, high volumes of file sharing traffic, and attempts to access hidden or administrative shares.
It can reveal sensitive or confidential information, increase the attack surface for further exploitation, and disrupt business operations if unauthorized access and tampering occur.
Investigate the source and scope of the enumeration activity, check for signs of compromise, review network traffic logs, and consult with IT and security teams to verify if the activity is legitimate.
Tools such as network traffic analysis, threat detection and response systems, and intrusion detection systems can help verify and investigate suspicious file share enumeration activities.
Implement robust network monitoring and alerting, enforce strict access controls, regularly conduct security assessments, and ensure timely patching and updating of systems to minimize vulnerabilities.