Linux auditd: systemd service file creation under systemd directories

Identifies new systemd unit file creation events under common systemd directories using auditd PATH create logs.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v3

Product: linux
Service: auditd
Author: Pawel Mazur (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-02-03
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.002Systemd Service
Priv Esc
- T1543.002Systemd Service
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags file creation events for systemd service units under standard systemd locations (e.g., /usr/lib/systemd/system/ and /etc/systemd/system/) and user unit paths containing /.config/systemd/user/. Adversaries can abuse these locations to persist by having systemd start attacker-controlled code via newly created unit files. It relies on Linux auditd PATH create telemetry that includes the created file path.

Reporting behind it

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Linux auditd: systemd service file creation under systemd directories

Pivot detection · T1543.002 · 9 related

Changelog

v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

linux-auditd-creation-of-systemd-unit-files-in-system-user-directories-1bac86ba

title: "Linux auditd: systemd service file creation under systemd directories"
id: 5462dc06-fce7-4bba-bf90-10e67ce1c29e
status: test
description: This rule flags file creation events for systemd service units under standard systemd locations (e.g., /usr/lib/systemd/system/ and /etc/systemd/system/) and user unit paths containing /.config/systemd/user/. Adversaries can abuse these locations to persist by having systemd start attacker-controlled code via newly created unit files. It relies on Linux auditd PATH create telemetry that includes the created file path.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1543.002/T1543.002.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/auditd/path/lnx_auditd_systemd_service_creation.yml
author: Pawel Mazur, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-02-03
modified: 2022-02-06
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1543.002
logsource:
  product: linux
  service: auditd
detection:
  path:
    type: PATH
    nametype: CREATE
  name_1:
    name|startswith:
      - /usr/lib/systemd/system/
      - /etc/systemd/system/
  name_2:
    name|contains: /.config/systemd/user/
  condition: path and 1 of name_*
falsepositives:
  - Admin work like legit service installs.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1bac86ba-41aa-4f62-9d6b-405eac99b485
    type: derived

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