A network share object was accessed
A user connected to an SMB network share (`\\Server\Share`).
Event ID 5140 logs when an SMB connection accesses a shared folder (`Share Name: \\*\ADMIN$`, `\\*\IPC$`, `\\*\C$`). Connecting to administrative shares (`ADMIN$`, `IPC$`, `C$`) across endpoints from non-administrative workstations is the primary telemetry signature for lateral movement and remote execution prep (`PsExec`, `WMI`, `SMBExec`).
Failure Reason / Root Cause:
Normal file server drive mapping, or lateral movement accessing administrative SMB shares (`ADMIN$`, `IPC$`).
Raw Event XML snippet
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing" Guid="{54849625-5478-4994-A5BA-3E3B0328C30D}" />
<EventID>5140</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>0</Level>
<Task>12544</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8020000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-07-17T09:54:44.931Z" />
<EventRecordID>1048576</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="612" ThreadID="1024" />
<Channel>Security</Channel>
<Computer>DC01.enterprise.internal</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="SubjectUserSid">S-1-5-18</Data>
<Data Name="SubjectUserName">SYSTEM</Data>
<Data Name="SubjectDomainName">NT AUTHORITY</Data>
<Data Name="SubjectLogonId">0x3e7</Data>
<!-- Event telemetry fields specific to A network share object was accessed -->
</EventData>
</Event>MITRE ATT&CK mapping
| ID | Technique | Tactic |
|---|---|---|
T1021.002 | Remote Services: SMB/Windows Admin Shares | Lateral Movement |
Recommended actions
- Alert immediately whenever `Share Name` matches `ADMIN$` or `C$` from non-tier-0 management IP addresses (`lateral movement detection`).
- Correlate Event 5140 with Event 4624 (`Logon Type 3`) to map attacker reconnaissance across network segments.