Elastic Security Detection Rules

ESXi Syslog Remote Host Reset

Last updated 2 days ago on 2026-09-30
Created 2 days ago on 2026-09-30

About

Detects the ESXi remote syslog destination being cleared with `--reset=loghost`. The loghost is where host logs are forwarded for retention and detection. Clearing it keeps later commands on the host only, so an external collector stops receiving them.
Tags
Domain: EndpointData Source: VMware vSphereUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Defense EvasionRule Type: Custom Query (KQL)Platform: VMware ESXiLanguage: kuery
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

↳ Impair Defenses (T1562)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
An administrator can reset the loghost while moving the host to a new collector. Confirm that a new `--loghost` value was set in the same change and that logs are arriving at the collector.
License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Query (Kibana Query Language)
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
logs-vsphere.log-*
Related Integrations

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

Query
text code block:
data_stream.dataset:vsphere.log and message:("syslog config set" and ("--reset loghost" or "--reset=loghost" or "reset=loghost"))

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect ESXi Syslog Remote Host Reset 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).