PHP File Creation in WordPress Plugin Directory

Last updated a day ago on 2026-07-20

Created a day ago on 2026-07-20

About

Detects the creation of a PHP file in the WordPress plugin directory, which is a common technique used by attackers to establish persistence on a compromised web server. Attackers may upload a malicious PHP file and call it from a web browser to gain remote access to the server.

Tags

Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceTactic: Initial AccessUse Case: VulnerabilityData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: eql

Severity

low

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

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

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

Initial Access (TA0001)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

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

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

False Positive Examples

Web servers or administrators may create PHP files in the WordPress plugin directory during maintenance.

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-endpoint.events.file*
Related Integrations: endpoint(external, opens in a new tab or window)
Query

✄𐘗text code block:
✄𐘗file where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type in ("creation", "change") and (
  process.name in (
    "nginx", "apache2", "httpd", "php-cgi", "php-fcgi", "php-cgi.cagefs",  "sw-engine-fpm",
    "wget", "curl", "bash", "dash", "sh", "tcsh", "csh", "zsh", "ksh", "fish", "mksh", "busybox"
  ) or
  process.name like ("php-fpm*", "lsphp*", "*.cgi", "*.fcgi")
) and
file.path like~ "*/wp-content/plugins/*.php*"

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect PHP File Creation in WordPress Plugin Directory 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).