Kernel Seeking Activity

Last updated 19 days ago on 2025-02-04
Created 2 months ago on 2025-01-07

About

This rule detects kernel seeking activity through several built-in Linux utilities. Attackers may use these utilities to search the Linux kernel for available symbols, functions, and other information that can be used to exploit the kernel.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: DiscoveryTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: eql
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

Discovery (TA0007)(opens in a new tab or window)

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(opens in a new tab or window)

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

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
logs-endpoint.events.process*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
(process.parent.args like "/boot/*" or process.args like "/boot/*") and (
  (process.name == "tail" and (process.args like "-c*" or process.args == "--bytes")) or
  (process.name == "cmp" and process.args == "-i") or
  (process.name in ("hexdump", "xxd") and process.args == "-s") or
  (process.name == "dd" and process.args like "seek*")
)

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Kernel Seeking Activity 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(opens in a new tab or window).