Elastic Security Detection Rules

Simple HTTP Web Server Creation

Last updated 2 months ago on 2025-03-20
Created 5 months ago on 2024-12-17

About

This rule detects the creation of a simple HTTP web server using PHP or Python built-in modules. Adversaries may create simple HTTP web servers to establish persistence on a compromised system by uploading a reverse or command shell payload to the server web root, allowing them to regain remote access to the system if lost.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceTactic: ExecutionTactic: Command and ControlData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: CrowdstrikeData Source: SentinelOneData Source: Elastic EndgameLanguage: eql
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

↳ Server Software Component (T1505)(opens in a new tab or window)

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

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

Command and Control (TA0011)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Application Layer Protocol (T1071)(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*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*endgame-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and
  event.action in ("exec", "exec_event", "start", "ProcessRollup2") and
  (
    (process.name regex~ """php?[0-9]?\.?[0-9]{0,2}""" and process.args == "-S") or
    (process.name like "python*" and process.args in ("--cgi", "CGIHTTPServer"))
  ) and
not process.parent.name in ("check_kmp_wrapper", "naemon")

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Simple HTTP Web Server Creation 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).