GitHub Exfiltration via High Number of Repository Clones by User

Last updated a month ago on 2025-12-16
Created a month ago on 2025-12-16

About

Detects a high number of repository cloning actions by a single user within a short time frame. Adversaries may clone multiple repositories to exfiltrate sensitive data.
Tags
Domain: CloudUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExfiltrationData Source: GithubLanguage: esql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Exfiltration (TA0010)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Related Integrations

github(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
from logs-github.audit-* metadata _id, _index, _version | where data_stream.dataset == "github.audit" and event.type == "change" and event.action == "git.clone" | stats Esql.event_count = COUNT(*), Esql.github_org_values = values(github.org), Esql.github_repo_values = values(github.repo), Esql.github_repository_public_values = values(github.repository_public), Esql.github_token_id_values = values(github.token_id), Esql.github_user_agent_values = values(github.user_agent), Esql.user_name_values = values(user.name), Esql.agent_id_values = values(agent.id), Esql.event_dataset_values = values(event.dataset), Esql.data_stream_namespace_values = values(data_stream.namespace) by user.name | keep Esql.* | where Esql.event_count >= 25

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect GitHub Exfiltration via High Number of Repository Clones by User in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).