Linux auditd: Hidden file or directory creation via leading-dot paths in execve

Alerts on Linux process executions creating or modifying dot-prefixed (hidden) files/directories.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v3

Product: linux
Service: auditd
Author: Pawel Mazur (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-09-06
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1564.001Hidden Files and Directories
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Linux processes that create or edit files by executing mkdir, nano, touch, vi, or vim with a path argument whose basename starts with a dot. Hidden (dot) files and directories are commonly used to reduce visibility and support stealthy persistence or configuration changes. It relies on auditd EXECVE telemetry capturing the command name and the first or second path-like argument matching a leading-dot pattern.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1564.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Execution of Hidden Binary from Private Tmp via Process Creation

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Linux auditd: Hidden file or directory creation via leading-dot paths in execve

Pivot detection · T1564.001 · 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-hidden-file-or-directory-creation-via-dot-prefixed-paths-d08722cd

title: "Linux auditd: Hidden file or directory creation via leading-dot paths in execve"
id: e935715b-ac5e-409c-96a4-e948a4cc2f66
status: test
description: This rule identifies Linux processes that create or edit files by executing mkdir, nano, touch, vi, or vim with a path argument whose basename starts with a dot. Hidden (dot) files and directories are commonly used to reduce visibility and support stealthy persistence or configuration changes. It relies on auditd EXECVE telemetry capturing the command name and the first or second path-like argument matching a leading-dot pattern.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1564.001/T1564.001.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/auditd/execve/lnx_auditd_hidden_files_directories.yml
author: Pawel Mazur, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-09-06
modified: 2025-06-16
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1564.001
logsource:
  product: linux
  service: auditd
detection:
  selection_commands:
    type: EXECVE
    a0:
      - mkdir
      - nano
      - touch
      - vi
      - vim
  selection_arguments:
    - a1|re: (^|\/)\.[^.\/]
    - a2|re: (^|\/)\.[^.\/]
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: d08722cd-3d09-449a-80b4-83ea2d9d4616
    type: derived

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