Suspicious Modprobe File Event

Last updated 21 days ago on 2025-12-24

Created 3 years ago on 2023-06-08

About

Detects file events involving kernel modules in modprobe configuration files, which may indicate unauthorized access or manipulation of critical kernel modules. Attackers may tamper with the modprobe files to load malicious or unauthorized kernel modules, potentially bypassing security measures, escalating privileges, or hiding their activities within the system.

Tags

Data Source: Auditd ManagerOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: DiscoveryRule Type: BBRLanguage: kuery

Severity

low

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

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

↳ System Information Discovery (T1082)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License

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

Definition

Rule Type: New Terms Rule
Integration Pack: Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns: auditbeat-*logs-auditd_manager.auditd-*
Related Integrations: auditd_manager(external, opens in a new tab or window)
Query

✄𐘗text code block:
✄𐘗host.os.type:linux and event.category:file and event.action:"opened-file" and
file.path : ("/etc/modprobe.conf" or "/etc/modprobe.d" or /etc/modprobe.d/*) and
not (
  process.name:(
    cp or dpkg or dockerd or lynis or mkinitramfs or snapd or systemd-udevd or borg or auditbeat or lspci or
    aide or modprobe or python*
  ) or
  process.executable:(
    /opt/sophos/* or /opt/eset/* or /var/lib/elastic* or /opt/Elastic/* or "/usr/lib/dracut/dracut-install" or
    "/usr/bin/pacman" or /opt/saltstack/salt/bin/python* or /var/lib/waagent/* or /opt/sophos-spl/plugins/av/bin/*
  )
)

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Suspicious Modprobe File Event 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).