Cisco AAA configuration changes enabling SPAN/RSPAN monitoring capture

Alerts on Cisco AAA logs referencing SPAN/RSPAN or monitor capture point configuration changes.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: cisco
Service: aaa
Author: Austin Clark (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2019-08-11
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access → Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1040Network Sniffing
Discovery
- T1040Network Sniffing
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Cisco AAA logs containing keywords related to configuring a monitor capture point or setting SPAN/RSPAN. Attackers can leverage span/rspan to capture traffic for credential discovery or internal reconnaissance without directly compromising endpoints. Detection relies on the presence of specific configuration/command keywords in Cisco AAA telemetry when monitoring is created or modified.

Reporting behind it

github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/network/cisco/aaa/cisco_cli_net_sniff.yml

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Cisco AAA configuration changes enabling SPAN/RSPAN monitoring capture

Pivot detection · T1040 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

cisco-aaa-monitor-span-rspan-capture-point-commands-b9e1f193

title: Cisco AAA configuration changes enabling SPAN/RSPAN monitoring capture
id: 0e416855-4816-496a-b1bc-702579297bba
status: test
description: This rule flags Cisco AAA logs containing keywords related to configuring a monitor capture point or setting SPAN/RSPAN. Attackers can leverage span/rspan to capture traffic for credential discovery or internal reconnaissance without directly compromising endpoints. Detection relies on the presence of specific configuration/command keywords in Cisco AAA telemetry when monitoring is created or modified.
author: Austin Clark, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-08-11
modified: 2023-01-04
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1040
logsource:
  product: cisco
  service: aaa
detection:
  keywords:
    - monitor capture point
    - set span
    - set rspan
  condition: keywords
falsepositives:
  - Admins may setup new or modify old spans, or use a monitor for troubleshooting
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b9e1f193-d236-4451-aaae-2f3d2102120d
    type: derived
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/network/cisco/aaa/cisco_cli_net_sniff.yml

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