File Transfer Utility Launched from Unusual Parent

Last updated 17 days ago on 2026-01-16
Created a year ago on 2025-02-21

About

This rule leverages ESQL to detect the execution of unusual file transfer utilities on Linux systems. Attackers may use these utilities to exfiltrate data from a compromised system. ESQL rules have limited fields available in its alert documents. Make sure to review the original documents to aid in the investigation of this alert.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExfiltrationTactic: ExecutionData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: esql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

Execution (TA0002)(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

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

Query
text code block:
from logs-endpoint.events.process-* metadata _id, _index, _version | mv_expand event.action | where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.name in ("scp", "ftp", "sftp", "vsftpd", "sftp-server", "rsync") and ( (process.parent.name in ("bash", "dash", "sh", "tcsh", "csh", "zsh", "ksh", "fish")) or ( process.parent.name like ".*" or process.parent.name like "*.elf" or process.parent.name like "*.sh" or process.parent.name like "*.py" or process.parent.name like "*.rb" or process.parent.name like "*.pl" or process.parent.name like "*.lua*" or process.parent.name like "*.php*" or process.parent.name like "*.js" ) or ( process.parent.executable like "/tmp/*" or process.parent.executable like "/var/tmp/*" or process.parent.executable like "/dev/shm/*" or process.parent.executable like "./*" or process.parent.executable like "/run/*" or process.parent.executable like "/var/run/*" or process.parent.executable like "/boot/*" or process.parent.executable like "/sys/*" or process.parent.executable like "/lost+found/*" or process.parent.executable like "/proc/*" or process.parent.executable like "/var/mail/*" or process.parent.executable like "/var/www/*" or process.parent.executable like "/home/*" or process.parent.executable like "/root/*" ) ) | keep @timestamp, _id, _index, _version, host.os.type, event.type, event.action, process.name, process.parent.name, process.parent.executable, process.executable, agent.id, host.name, event.dataset, data_stream.namespace | stats Esql.event_count = count(), Esql.agent_id_count_distinct = count_distinct(agent.id), Esql.host_name_values = values(host.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 process.executable, process.parent.executable | where Esql.agent_id_count_distinct == 1 and Esql.event_count < 5 | sort Esql.event_count asc // Extract unique values to ECS fields for alerts exclusion | eval agent.id = mv_min(Esql.agent_id_values), host.name = mv_min(Esql.host_name_values) | keep agent.id, host.name, process.executable, process.parent.executable, Esql.*

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect File Transfer Utility Launched from Unusual Parent 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).