Boot File Copy

Last updated 9 months ago on 2025-03-20

Created a year ago on 2025-01-16

About

This rule detects the process of copying or moving files from or to the `/boot` directory on Linux systems. The `/boot` directory contains files that are essential for the system to boot, such as the kernel and initramfs images. Attackers may copy or move files to the `/boot` directory to modify the boot process, which can be leveraged to maintain access to the system.

Tags

Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: Auditd ManagerData Source: CrowdstrikeData Source: SentinelOneLanguage: eql

Severity

low

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

Persistence (TA0003)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Pre-OS Boot (T1542)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Create or Modify System Process (T1543)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Hijack Execution Flow (T1574)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Execution (TA0002)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

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

License

Elastic License v2(external, 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*endgame-*auditbeat-*logs-auditd_manager.auditd-*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*

Related Integrations

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

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

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

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

Query

✄𐘗text code block:
✄𐘗process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and
event.action in ("exec", "exec_event", "start", "ProcessRollup2", "executed") and
process.name in ("cp", "mv") and process.parent.executable != null and process.args like~ "/boot/*" and not (
  process.parent.name in ("update-initramfs", "dracut", "grub-mkconfig", "shim-install", "sudo", "activate-theme", "update-grub-gfxpayload", "grub-pc.postinst") or
  process.parent.executable like~ ("/usr/lib/kernel/install.d/*", "/tmp/newroot/*", "/var/lib/dpkg/info/*") or
  process.parent.args like~ ("/usr/bin/mkinitcpio", "/var/tmp/rpm-tmp.*")
)

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Boot File Copy 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).