Payload Execution via Shell Pipe Detected by Defend for Containers

Last updated 15 days ago on 2026-02-10

Created 15 days ago on 2026-02-10

About

This rule detects when a payload is downloaded and piped to a shell inside a running container. This could indicate a threat actor downloaded a payload and executed it using a shell without the payload being stored on the filesystem.

Tags

Data Source: Elastic Defend for ContainersDomain: ContainerOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExecutionTactic: Command and ControlTactic: Defense EvasionLanguage: eql

Severity

medium

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

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

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

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

↳ Application Layer Protocol (T1071)(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-cloud_defend.process*
Related Integrations: cloud_defend(external, opens in a new tab or window)
Query

✄𐘗text code block:
✄𐘗sequence by process.parent.entity_id, container.id with maxspan=5s
  [process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
   process.name in ("curl", "wget") and process.interactive == true]
  [process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
   process.name in ("bash", "dash", "sh", "tcsh", "csh", "zsh", "ksh", "fish") and
   process.interactive == true]

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Payload Execution via Shell Pipe Detected by Defend for Containers 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).