huntrule

Linux: Detect changes to fs.suid_dumpable enabling core dumps for SUID processes

Flags Linux processes writing fs.suid_dumpable to enable SUID core dumps, which can expose privileged process memory.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5
Product
linux
Category
process_creation
Author
Milad Cheraghi (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2026-04-28
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Cred Access

  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

This rule identifies attempts to enable core dumps for SUID processes by changing /proc/sys/fs/suid_dumpable via sysctl calls or shell redirection (echo 1/2). Attackers may use this to capture memory from elevated SUID binaries, potentially exposing sensitive data like passwords, cryptographic keys, or other secrets. It relies on process creation telemetry where the command line shows sysctl usage containing fs.suid_dumpable= or echo of values redirected to /proc/sys/fs/suid_dumpable.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious User Home Directory Modification via dscl Process Creation
Possible GTFOBins Shell Breakout via apt Command
Malicious Update Orchestrator Service Reconfiguration for Privilege Escalation
Suspicious Veeam Backup Credential Harvesting via PowerShell (via ps_script)
Malicious macOS Credential Verification via dscl authonly
Linux: Detect changes to fs.suid_dumpable enabling core dumps for SUID processes
Pivot detection · T1003 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.