Linux auditd: Detect processes using --cpu-priority command-line parameter (possible miner behavior)

Alerts on Linux processes whose command line includes --cpu-priority, a common miner CPU tuning flag.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v3

Product: linux
Service: auditd
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-10-09
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Linux processes whose command line begins with the --cpu-priority option across the captured process arguments. Attackers and coin miners commonly use CPU priority tuning to increase mining performance and persistence on compromised hosts. The detection relies on auditd telemetry that includes the process command line, matching occurrences where the argument starts with --cpu-priority.

Reporting behind it

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Linux auditd: Detect processes using --cpu-priority command-line parameter (possible miner behavior)

Pivot detection · T1068 · 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-processes-using-cpu-priority-command-line-option-071d5e5a

title: "Linux auditd: Detect processes using --cpu-priority command-line parameter (possible miner behavior)"
id: 07a7ce5b-6570-4878-9c84-5086e0a231c3
status: test
description: This rule flags Linux processes whose command line begins with the --cpu-priority option across the captured process arguments. Attackers and coin miners commonly use CPU priority tuning to increase mining performance and persistence on compromised hosts. The detection relies on auditd telemetry that includes the process command line, matching occurrences where the argument starts with --cpu-priority.
references:
  - https://xmrig.com/docs/miner/command-line-options
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/auditd/execve/lnx_auditd_coinminer.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-10-09
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1068
logsource:
  product: linux
  service: auditd
detection:
  cmd1:
    a1|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd2:
    a2|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd3:
    a3|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd4:
    a4|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd5:
    a5|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd6:
    a6|startswith: --cpu-priority
  cmd7:
    a7|startswith: --cpu-priority
  condition: 1 of cmd*
falsepositives:
  - Other tools that use a --cpu-priority flag
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 071d5e5a-9cef-47ec-bc4e-a42e34d8d0ed
    type: derived

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