Linux Sudo Privilege Escalation Attempt Matching CVE-2019-14287 Command-Line Pattern

Alerts on Linux process command lines containing ' -u#' indicative of sudo CVE-2019-14287 exploitation attempts.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: linux
Category: process_creation
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2019-10-15
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
- T1548.003Sudo and Sudo Caching
Defense Evasion
- T1548.003Sudo and Sudo Caching
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Linux process creation events where the command line contains the specific argument pattern ' -u#', consistent with attempts to exploit the sudo vulnerability associated with CVE-2019-14287. Attackers may use malformed or crafted sudo parameters to attempt privilege escalation to higher-privileged execution. The detection relies on Linux process creation telemetry that includes command-line arguments for newly spawned processes.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1068 — drag to rearrange

Linux sudo CVE-2019-14287 exploit attempt via unusual USER strings

Malicious JuicyPotato Privilege Escalation Execution (UAT-7237)

Suspicious Dell ControlVault DLL Load by Unexpected Process (ReVault)

Malicious Known Vulnerable Driver Load for BYOVD Attack

Suspicious Vulnerable ASUS AsIO3.sys Driver Load

Malicious Qilin EDR Killer BYOVD Driver Load

Malicious Looney Tunables Privilege Escalation Exploit by Kinsing (via process_creation)

Malicious Kerberos proxiable/S4U2self Ticket - CVE-2021-42278/42287 (via security)

Malicious Vulnerable Driver HwRwDrv Loaded for BYOVD

Linux Sudo Privilege Escalation Attempt Matching CVE-2019-14287 Command-Line Pattern

Pivot detection · T1068 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-sudo-privilege-escalation-attempt-matching-cve-2019-14287-command-line-pat-f74107df

title: Linux Sudo Privilege Escalation Attempt Matching CVE-2019-14287 Command-Line Pattern
id: a1a11aaa-7e59-44d9-9c9e-8d1280189192
status: test
description: This rule flags Linux process creation events where the command line contains the specific argument pattern ' -u#', consistent with attempts to exploit the sudo vulnerability associated with CVE-2019-14287. Attackers may use malformed or crafted sudo parameters to attempt privilege escalation to higher-privileged execution. The detection relies on Linux process creation telemetry that includes command-line arguments for newly spawned processes.
references:
  - https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/10/14/1
  - https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2019-14287
  - https://twitter.com/matthieugarin/status/1183970598210412546
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2019/Exploits/CVE-2019-14287/proc_creation_lnx_exploit_cve_2019_14287.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2019-10-15
modified: 2022-10-05
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1068
  - attack.t1548.003
  - cve.2019-14287
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  product: linux
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains: " -u#"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: f74107df-b6c6-4e80-bf00-4170b658162b
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL