OpenCanary application logs: detect NMAP XMAS scans targeting an OpenCanary node

Detects OpenCanary log events showing an Nmap Xmas scan targeting the monitored node.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: opencanary
Category: application
Author: Marco Pedrinazzi (@pedrinazziM) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2026-01-06
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
- T1046Network Service Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags events in OpenCanary application logs where the logtype value indicates an NMAP XMAS scan targeted the monitored node. Such scanning activity is a common reconnaissance technique used to probe services and infer network exposure. The detection relies on OpenCanary telemetry, specifically the recorded application logtype associated with XMAS scan attempts.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1046 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Fscan Internal Network Scanner Execution (via process_creation)

Possible Network Service Scanning via Nmap or Masscan (via process_creation)

Malicious Anonymous Login - Domain Specified (via security)

Suspicious Network Scanning Tool Execution

Malicious RDP Discovery Performed on Multiple Hosts (via rdp)

Malicious Anonymous Access Performed to Multiple Targets (via security)

Malicious Network Login Performed to Multiple Targets (via security)

Suspicious SoftPerfect Network Scanner Execution for Discovery

Suspicious SoftPerfect Network Scanner Execution (via process_creation)

OpenCanary application logs: detect NMAP XMAS scans targeting an OpenCanary node

Pivot detection · T1046 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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.

opencanary-network-service-logs-nmap-xmas-scan-targeting-detection-d7553d7b

title: "OpenCanary application logs: detect NMAP XMAS scans targeting an OpenCanary node"
id: 7066665c-62cc-4ca3-afa6-7865ee3a9d14
status: experimental
description: This rule flags events in OpenCanary application logs where the logtype value indicates an NMAP XMAS scan targeted the monitored node. Such scanning activity is a common reconnaissance technique used to probe services and infer network exposure. The detection relies on OpenCanary telemetry, specifically the recorded application logtype associated with XMAS scan attempts.
references:
  - https://opencanary.readthedocs.io/en/latest/starting/configuration.html#services-configuration
  - https://github.com/thinkst/opencanary/blob/a0896adfcaf0328cfd5829fe10d2878c7445138e/opencanary/logger.py#L52
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/application/opencanary/opencanary_portscan_nmap_xmas_scan.yml
author: Marco Pedrinazzi (@pedrinazziM), Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-06
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1046
logsource:
  category: application
  product: opencanary
detection:
  selection:
    logtype: 5004
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: d7553d7b-f485-479c-b192-cdac6edd83a4
    type: derived

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