File Creation and Execution Detected via Defend for Containers

Last updated 5 days ago on 2026-02-06
Created 5 days ago on 2026-02-06

About

This rule detects when an interactive process creates a file inside of a running container, followed by its execution. This could indicate a potential container breakout attempt, an attacker's attempt to gain unauthorized access to the underlying host, or to evade detection by security controls.
Tags
Data Source: Elastic Defend for ContainersDomain: ContainerOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExecutionTactic: Command and ControlLanguage: eql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

Command and Control (TA0011)(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*logs-cloud_defend.file*
Related Integrations

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

Query
text code block:
sequence by container.id, user.id with maxspan=3s [file where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "creation" and process.interactive == true and container.id like "?*" and file.path like ("/tmp/*", "/var/tmp/*", "/dev/shm/*", "/root/*", "/home/*") and not process.name in ("apt", "apt-get", "dnf", "microdnf", "yum", "zypper", "tdnf", "apk", "pacman", "rpm", "dpkg")] by file.path [process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.interactive == true and container.id like "?*"] by process.executable

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect File Creation and Execution Detected via 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).