huntrule

Linux Process Creation Crypto Miner Command-Line Indicators

Alerts on Linux process executions with command-line strings typical of crypto mining pools, stratum endpoints, and miner options.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v3
Product
linux
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-10-26
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

  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 Linux process creation events whose command line contains parameters and connection strings commonly seen in crypto miner tooling. Attackers can use these indicators to redirect compute resources to mining pools or disrupt host performance, so surfacing these patterns helps identify likely mining activity. It relies on telemetry that captures command-line arguments for newly created processes.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1496 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Hadooken Cryptominer Execution via Masqueraded Binaries (via process_creation)
Suspicious Lucifer Botnet Mining Pool Domain Resolution (via dns_query)
Suspicious Proxyjacking Service Resolution Observed in perfctl Campaign (via dns_query)
Malicious PureMiner Persistence Executable in AppData HResult Folder
Suspicious T-Rex CoinMiner Binaries in Windows NT Program Files Folder (via file_event)
Malicious Cryptocurrency Miner Execution (via process_creation)
Possible Cryptomining Beacon to c3pool Mining Domain
Malicious XMRig Cryptominer Execution with NiceHash Pool Arguments
Suspicious Payload Execution From systemd-private Temporary Directory on Linux
Linux Process Creation Crypto Miner Command-Line Indicators
Pivot detection · T1496 · 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.