SSH Authorized Keys File Modification
editSSH Authorized Keys File Modification
editThe Secure Shell (SSH) authorized_keys file specifies which users are allowed to log into a server using public key authentication. Adversaries may modify it to maintain persistence on a victim host by adding their own public key(s).
Rule type: query
Rule indices:
- auditbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.*
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: None
Tags:
- Elastic
- Host
- Linux
- macOS
- Threat Detection
- Lateral Movement
- Persistence
Version: 102
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Rule query
editevent.category:file and event.type:(change or creation) and file.name:("authorized_keys" or "authorized_keys2" or "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" or "/root/.ssh") and not process.executable: (/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/git or /usr/local/Cellar/maven/*/libexec/bin/mvn or /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk*.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java or /usr/bin/vim or /usr/local/Cellar/coreutils/*/bin/gcat or /usr/bin/bsdtar or /usr/bin/nautilus or /usr/bin/scp or /usr/bin/touch or /var/lib/docker/* or /usr/bin/google_guest_agent or /opt/jc/bin/jumpcloud-agent)
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Persistence
- ID: TA0003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
-
Technique:
- Name: Account Manipulation
- ID: T1098
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH Authorized Keys
- ID: T1098.004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/004/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Lateral Movement
- ID: TA0008
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/
-
Technique:
- Name: Remote Service Session Hijacking
- ID: T1563
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1563/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH Hijacking
- ID: T1563.001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1563/001/
-
Technique:
- Name: Remote Services
- ID: T1021
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH
- ID: T1021.004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/004/