Linux Remote File Copy via scp, rsync, or sftp

Flags Linux command lines using scp/rsync/sftp with remote-target style arguments containing “@” and “:”.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v3
Product
linux
Author
Ömer Günal (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-06-18
Updated
2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

C2
  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. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Linux activity consistent with remote file transfers using scp, rsync, or sftp. Attackers and admins may use these tools to stage, move, or exfiltrate files across systems during command-and-control or lateral movement. It relies on process command-line telemetry matching tool names along with characters commonly present in remote target specifications ("@" and ":").

Related detections9 linkedT1105 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Remote Script Transfer via Bitsadmin (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell Download Cradle via ClickFix Fake CAPTCHA (via process_creation)
Malicious Curl MSI Download to ProgramData via Process Creation
Suspicious CloudZ RAT Payload Download via curl to ProgramData
Suspicious Velociraptor Agent Deployment via msiexec From Cloud Storage
Suspicious PowerShell Download of lib.zip Archive
Suspicious File Download Via Bitsadmin Transfer
Suspicious PowerShell Download Of Text-Disguised Payload
Explorer WebDAV UNC Download Using At-Port Syntax
Linux Remote File Copy via scp, rsync, or sftp
Pivot detection · T1105 · 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.