huntrule

Linux Process Creating xterm Reverse Shell Display Tunneling

Alerts on xterm processes started with -display and display endpoint ":1" consistent with a reverse shell tunnel.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
linux
Category
process_creation
Author
@d4ns4n_ (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-04-24
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 flags Linux process executions where the binary path or name contains "xterm" and the command line includes "-display" with a target ending in ":1". Attackers may use xterm with display forwarding/tunneling to establish or interact with a remote shell pathway. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the Image field and the full CommandLine content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Web Server Process Spawning Command Interpreter via Web Shell (via process_creation)
Suspicious VMware Guest Operation Output Staging in vmware-system Temp Directory (via file_event)
Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by Excel via DarkGate Lure
Suspicious AutoHotkey Script Execution from User Writable Path by DarkGate
Malicious China Chopper Web Shell Command Pattern in IIS Worker Process (via process_creation)
Malicious AutoHotKey Runner AutoNotify Executing AHKBot Looper Script (via process_creation)
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning Command Shell after ASP.NET ViewState Injection (via process_creation)
Suspicious MSSQL xp_cmdshell Enablement via sp_configure (via process_creation)
Linux Process Creating xterm Reverse Shell Display Tunneling
Pivot detection · T1059 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.