Linux Remote System Discovery via arp and ping Process Execution

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
- T1018Remote System Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Linux process executions where the binary name ends with /arp using the '-a' argument, or where a ping binary ends with /ping and the command line contains common private or local IP ranges. Such enumeration helps an attacker identify reachable hosts and expand targeting during discovery and lateral movement preparation. Telemetry relies on Linux process creation events including the executable path and command-line arguments.

Reporting behind it

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Linux Remote System Discovery via arp and ping Process Execution

Pivot detection · T1018 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-remote-system-discovery-via-arp-or-ping-enumeration-11063ec2

title: Linux Remote System Discovery via arp and ping Process Execution
id: b59b33fe-63af-4bb4-8b11-e53892d93354
status: test
description: This rule flags Linux process executions where the binary name ends with /arp using the '-a' argument, or where a ping binary ends with /ping and the command line contains common private or local IP ranges. Such enumeration helps an attacker identify reachable hosts and expand targeting during discovery and lateral movement preparation. Telemetry relies on Linux process creation events including the executable path and command-line arguments.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1018/T1018.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/process_creation/proc_creation_lnx_remote_system_discovery.yml
author: Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-22
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1018
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection_1:
    Image|endswith: /arp
    CommandLine|contains: -a
  selection_2:
    Image|endswith: /ping
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " 10."
      - " 192.168."
      - " 172.16."
      - " 172.17."
      - " 172.18."
      - " 172.19."
      - " 172.20."
      - " 172.21."
      - " 172.22."
      - " 172.23."
      - " 172.24."
      - " 172.25."
      - " 172.26."
      - " 172.27."
      - " 172.28."
      - " 172.29."
      - " 172.30."
      - " 172.31."
      - " 127."
      - " 169.254."
  condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administration activities
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 11063ec2-de63-4153-935e-b1a8b9e616f1
    type: derived

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