Kaspersky Endpoint Security Service Stopped via Command Line on Linux

Flags Linux commands using systemctl/bash/sh to stop Kaspersky (kesl) services, suggesting defense impairment or manual service shutdown.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v3

Product: linux
Category: process_creation
Author: Milad Cheraghi (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-10-18
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies process creation events where a Kaspersky init.d stop action is executed on Linux, either directly through a shell or via systemctl. Attackers may stop or disable security tooling to evade defenses or interfere with incident response. The detection relies on Linux process execution telemetry, matching on process image ending with common shells/systemctl and a command line containing both 'stop' and 'kesl'.

Reporting behind it

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Kaspersky Endpoint Security Service Stopped via Command Line on Linux

Pivot detection · T1685 · 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-kaspersky-endpoint-security-stopped-via-command-line-init-d-systemctl-36388120

title: Kaspersky Endpoint Security Service Stopped via Command Line on Linux
id: 7d0ecb05-a907-4b66-bb0d-4c352c3e2462
status: experimental
description: This rule identifies process creation events where a Kaspersky init.d stop action is executed on Linux, either directly through a shell or via systemctl. Attackers may stop or disable security tooling to evade defenses or interfere with incident response. The detection relies on Linux process execution telemetry, matching on process image ending with common shells/systemctl and a command line containing both 'stop' and 'kesl'.
references:
  - https://support.kaspersky.com/KES4Linux/12.0.0/en-US/197929.htm
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/process_creation/proc_creation_lnx_av_kaspersky_av_disabled.yml
author: Milad Cheraghi, Huntrule Team
date: 2025-10-18
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  product: linux
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      - /systemctl
      - /bash
      - /sh
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - stop
      - kesl
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - System administrator manually stopping Kaspersky services
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 36388120-b3f1-4ce9-b50b-280d9a7f4c04
    type: derived

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