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OSSEC / HIDS Rule 171004
- Rule family: OSSEC / HIDS
- Rule ID: 171004
- Definition status: Present in current source
- Alert message / subject: Multiple rapid Exim authentication failures.
- Rule level: 10
- Definition checked: 2026-10-21
- Configured frequency: 3
- Timeframe (seconds): 10
Correlation values are configuration attributes; event-count behavior depends on the manager version and parent rules.
Interpretation and response
This event is recorded as “Multiple rapid Exim authentication failures.” Review the originating log and the affected host or service to determine whether the activity was expected.
An OSSEC/HIDS event records or correlates activity. Blocking depends on the originating application and any separately configured Active Response policy; an alert alone does not prove that an attack was blocked.
Documentation
The following guidance was migrated from the historical wiki and reviewed against the rule definition. Legacy ASL product names and interface instructions refer to the versions documented then. Use the current metadata above and your installed configuration when interpreting thresholds, notification settings and response behavior.
Rule ID
171004
Message
Multiple rapid Exim authentication failures.
Description
This rule detects when exim reports a high number of incorrect authentication failures for the same IP. The threshold is 5 failures in 10 seconds.
False Positives
A legitimate event may still trigger this rule. Review the surrounding activity before deciding whether it is malicious.
Tuning Recommendations
None.
Similar Rules
Source and revision
Migrated from HIDS_171004, wiki page 628, revision 5338 (20150105). Documentation review: 2026-10-21. An archived wiki status of Active is not a current deployment status.
For assistance, provide the rule ID, installed product and rule version, and a sanitized event to Atomicorp support .