Suspicious Cloudflared Tunnel Execution with Token

ATT&CK techniques

C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1572Protocol Tunneling
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects execution of the cloudflared client to run a named tunnel with an embedded token, establishing an outbound encrypted channel that bypasses perimeter controls. Akira ransomware operators used cloudflared tunnels for covert remote access into victim networks. Unsanctioned tunneling tools provide attackers persistent command and control that evades firewall inspection.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1572 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Reverse SSH Tunnel Exposing Local SSH via process_creation

Suspicious OpenSSH Reverse Tunnel Creation via Process Creation

Suspicious OpenSSH Reverse Tunnel Establishment via process_creation

Suspicious LocalToNet Tunneling Tool Execution

Malicious RDP Tunneling via ngrok (via process_creation)

Suspicious UUID Named Pipe Created Consistent with Mythic SMB Agent

Malicious Chisel Reverse Tunnel Execution for Protocol Tunneling

Suspicious Cloudflared Tunnel Execution with Token

Pivot detection · T1572 · 9 related

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

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