A network share object was accessed

// EVENT DEFINITION:

A user connected to an SMB network share (`\\Server\Share`).

// DETAILED TELEMETRY & CONTEXT:

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 Analysis

Normal file server drive mapping, or lateral movement accessing administrative SMB shares (`ADMIN$`, `IPC$`).

Operational Metadata & Applicability

Log Category:Object Access

Audit Type Classification:Success Audit

Supported Operating Systems:Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 / Windows Client 10, 11 (Enterprise / Pro)

Threat Hunting Keywords:

network sharesmbadmin$ipc$c$lateral movementshare access

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Alignment

T1021.002

Remote Services: SMB/Windows Admin SharesTactic: Lateral Movement

Mitigation Playbook & Recommended SOC 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.

Representative Windows Event XML Schema

<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="2026-07-17T09:54:44.354Z" />
    <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>

Correlated / Related Security Event IDs

Need to export or view this event without styling/layout wrappers?

Open Simple Plain Detail Page →

ADVERTISEMENT / SPONSORED RESERVATION (728x90)