Linux process discovery via grep/egrep searching for security software strings

Alerts when grep/egrep on Linux searches command lines for indicators of security/monitoring tools.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v2

Product: linux
Category: process_creation
Author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-19
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
- T1518.001Security Software Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Linux process executions where the binary name ends with /grep or /egrep and the command line contains one of several strings associated with security and telemetry software. Attackers may use simple text-search utilities to enumerate installed tools (e.g., vulnerability scanners, log shippers, monitoring/agent processes) during discovery. It relies on process creation telemetry that includes the executable path and full command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1518.001 — drag to rearrange

Antivirus Software Discovery via tasklist and findstr

Suspicious Security Software Discovery via WMI or Defender Query (via process_creation)

Suspicious Security Software Discovery via PowerShell SecurityCenter2 AntivirusProduct Query (via process_creation)

Suspicious Antivirus Product Enumeration via WMI Query via process_creation

Suspicious Security Software Discovery via tasklist and findstr (via process_creation)

Suspicious Security Process Enumeration via Tasklist And Findstr

Suspicious Security Software Enumeration on macOS

macOS csrutil Used to Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP)

macOS SIP Status Enumeration via csrutil status

Linux process discovery via grep/egrep searching for security software strings

Pivot detection · T1518.001 · 9 related

Changelog

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-process-discovery-via-grep-egrep-searching-for-security-monitoring-tools-c9d8b7fd

title: Linux process discovery via grep/egrep searching for security software strings
id: 546b64f5-ffbd-4a9a-b891-34f78508d6dc
status: test
description: This rule flags Linux process executions where the binary name ends with /grep or /egrep and the command line contains one of several strings associated with security and telemetry software. Attackers may use simple text-search utilities to enumerate installed tools (e.g., vulnerability scanners, log shippers, monitoring/agent processes) during discovery. It relies on process creation telemetry that includes the executable path and full command line.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1518.001/T1518.001.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/process_creation/proc_creation_lnx_security_software_discovery.yml
author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-19
modified: 2022-11-27
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1518.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      - /grep
      - /egrep
    CommandLine|contains:
      - nessusd
      - td-agent
      - packetbeat
      - filebeat
      - auditbeat
      - osqueryd
      - cbagentd
      - falcond
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate activities
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: c9d8b7fd-78e4-44fe-88f6-599135d46d60
    type: derived

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