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Uncommon Linux shell command execution

Synopsis

Field
Value

Activation Period

14 Days

Training Period

30 Days

Test Period

N/A (single event)

Deduplication Period

1 Day

Required Data

XDR Agent

Detector Tags

Shell Analytics

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

Informational

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Variations

Uncommon Linux shell command execution by a BAS solution

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

High

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution disabling firewall

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Defense Impairment (TA0112)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Disable or Modify Tools (T1685)

Severity

High

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution, possibly running LinPEAS

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068)

Severity

High

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution using exploitation tool

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

High

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution taking a screenshot

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Collection (TA0009)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Screen Capture (T1113)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution trying to gather information about the system

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Discovery (TA0007)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), System Information Discovery (T1082), Software Discovery (T1518), Account Discovery (T1087), Account Discovery: Local Account (T1087.001), System Owner/User Discovery (T1033), Network Service Discovery (T1046), System Network Configuration Discovery (T1016), System Network Connections Discovery (T1049), File and Directory Discovery (T1083), Peripheral Device Discovery (T1120), Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery (T1518.001)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution loading a kernel module

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Persistence (TA0003), Privilege Escalation (TA0004)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions (T1547.006)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution, possibly granting file execution permissions

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Defense Impairment (TA0112)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), File and Directory Permissions Modification (T1222)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution running a network tool

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Discovery (TA0007)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Network Service Discovery (T1046)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution setting a scheduled task

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Scheduled Task/Job (T1053)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution running a process kill command

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

Low

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution with su/sudo elevation

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

Informational

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution accessing history (e.g. bash history or login records)

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002), Credential Access (TA0006)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Unsecured Credentials: Shell History (T1552.003)

Severity

Informational

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution from a scripting language interpreter

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

Informational

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

Uncommon Linux shell command execution executed from within a web server

Synopsis

Field
Value

ATT&CK Tactic

Execution (TA0002)

ATT&CK Technique

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell (T1059.004), Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)

Severity

Informational

Description

An unusual process execution of a shell command on Linux. This action may indicate possible exploitation or shell command execution via a backdoor.

Attacker's Goals

An attacker may attempt to execute a malicious shell command on the system.

Investigative actions

  • Check whether the executing process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.

  • Check the executed shell command (and possible child processes) for malicious actions.

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