Sigma rule: Communication To LocaltoNet Tunneling Service Initiated

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-9307eeb7fb5b, updated 2024-06-17T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Communication To LocaltoNet Tunneling Service Initiated
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io)
Date
2024-06-17
File
rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_domain_localtonet_tunnel.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects an executable initiating a network connection to "LocaltoNet" tunneling sub-domains.
LocaltoNet is a reverse proxy that enables localhost services to be exposed to the Internet.
Attackers have been seen to use this service for command-and-control activities to bypass MFA and perimeter controls.

Log source

product
windows
category
network_connection

Detection

selection:
    DestinationHostname|endswith:
        - '.localto.net'
        - '.localtonet.com'
    Initiated: 'true'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Legitimate use of the LocaltoNet service.

Tags

  • attack.command-and-control
  • attack.t1572
  • attack.t1090
  • attack.t1102

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

References

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_domain_localtonet_tunnel.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Communication To LocaltoNet Tunneling Service Initiated" by Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io) (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_domain_localtonet_tunnel.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Communication To LocaltoNet Tunneling Service Initiated",
entity page, dataset version ref-9307eeb7fb5b, updated 2024-06-17T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/3ab65069-d82a-4d44-a759-466661a082d1 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 3ab65069-d82a-4d44-a759-466661a082d1, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.