huntrule

Linux ESXi esxcli Storage Information Discovery via esxcli storage commands

Flags Linux process executions of esxcli with storage discovery subcommands like get/list.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v3
Product
linux
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Cedric Maurugeon (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-09-04
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection
title: Linux ESXi esxcli Storage Information Discovery via esxcli storage commands
id: f046022c-2ac3-4619-bc95-953123faca83
status: test
description: This rule detects process executions where the command line includes the esxcli storage-related arguments and requests storage information (e.g., get/list). Attackers often use VMware ESXi command-line utilities to inventory storage configuration and status as part of discovery before further actions. Telemetry relies on process creation events from Linux that include the executed binary path and the full command line.
references:
  - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/21/e/darkside-linux-vms-targeted.html
  - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/a/analysis-and-Impact-of-lockbit-ransomwares-first-linux-and-vmware-esxi-variant.html
  - https://developer.broadcom.com/xapis/esxcli-command-reference/7.0.0/namespace/esxcli_storage.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/process_creation/proc_creation_lnx_esxcli_storage_discovery.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Cedric Maurugeon, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-09-04
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1033
  - attack.t1007
  - attack.t1059.012
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection_img:
    Image|endswith: /esxcli
    CommandLine|contains: storage
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " get"
      - " list"
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administration activities
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: f41dada5-3f56-4232-8503-3fb7f9cf2d60
    type: derived