Privileged Docker Container Creation

Last updated 2 months ago on 2025-12-18

Created 2 years ago on 2024-07-10

About

This rule leverages the new_terms rule type to identify the creation of a potentially unsafe docker container from an unusual parent process. Attackers can use the "--privileged" flag to create containers with escalated privileges, which can lead to trivial privilege escalation, docker escaping and persistence. access.

Tags

Domain: EndpointDomain: ContainerOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExecutionData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: SentinelOneLanguage: kuery

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)

↳ Container Administration Command (T1609)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Privilege Escalation (TA0004)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Escape to Host (T1611)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License

Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type

New Terms Rule

Integration Pack

Prebuilt Security Detection Rules

Index Patterns

endgame-*logs-endpoint.events.process*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*

Related Integrations

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

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

Query

✄𐘗text code block:
✄𐘗host.os.type:linux and event.category:process and event.type:start and
event.action:(exec or exec_event or start) and
process.name:docker and process.args:(run and --privileged)

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Privileged Docker Container 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(external, opens in a new tab or window).