Potential Linux Credential Dumping via Unshadow

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Potential Linux Credential Dumping via Unshadow

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Identifies the execution of the unshadow utility which is part of John the Ripper, a password-cracking tool on the host machine. Malicious actors can use the utility to retrieve the combined contents of the /etc/shadow and /etc/password files. Using the combined file generated from the utility, the malicious threat actors can use them as input for password-cracking utilities or prepare themselves for future operations by gathering credential information of the victim.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • logs-endpoint.events.*
  • endgame-*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Data Source: Elastic Endgame
  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Linux
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Credential Access
  • Data Source: Elastic Defend

Version: 6

Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

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process where host.os.type == "linux" and process.name == "unshadow" and
  event.type == "start" and event.action in ("exec", "exec_event") and process.args_count >= 2

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM