huntrule

Linux Process Creation: File Deletion via rm, shred, or unlink

Alerts on Linux process executions of rm, shred, or unlink used to delete files.

FreeReviewedSigma · Informational · v3
Product
linux
Category
process_creation
Author
Ömer Günal, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-07
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

Identifies Linux processes executed with paths ending in /rm, /shred, or /unlink, indicating attempts to delete files. File deletion is a common attacker tactic to remove artifacts and reduce evidence of intrusion activity. The rule relies on process creation telemetry that includes the executing image path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1070.004 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Crontab Removal via Command Line (via process_creation)
Suspicious Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del (via process_creation)
Malicious Self-Deletion Via Fsutil SetZeroData
Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback Delay and Del Command
Suspicious Deletion of Explorer RunMRU Values
Suspicious PowerShell Self-Delete Of Executable via Process Creation
Suspicious Prefetch Deletion for Anti-Forensics
Malicious Ransomware Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del
Suspicious Self-Deletion Batch Artifact by JadeProx TriBack Loader (via file_event)
Linux Process Creation: File Deletion via rm, shred, or unlink
Pivot detection · T1070.004 · 9 related

Changelog

v3
  1. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. 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.