Suspicious Execution of Cloudflared Tunnel (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Execution of Cloudflared Tunnel (via process_creation)
id: c9635cfe-0a8e-50e2-87f5-986d0dc28ee9
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of the "cloudflared" tool to connect back to a tunnel. This was seen used by threat actors to maintain persistence and remote access to compromised networks.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1572/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1090/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1102/
    - https://blog.reconinfosec.com/emergence-of-akira-ransomware-group
    - https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared
    - https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/connections/connect-apps
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-26
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1102
    - attack.t1090
    - attack.t1572
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' tunnel '
            - ' run '
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '-config '
            - '-credentials-contents '
            - '-credentials-file '
            - '-token '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium