Linux System & Hardware Information Discovery via File and Version Reads

Detects Linux file access to BIOS/DMI, hardware model, kernel, and OS release/issue identifiers used for system profiling.

FreeReviewedSigma · Informational · v3

Product: linux
Service: auditd
Author: Ömer Günal, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-08
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
- T1082System Information Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process activity that directly reads common Linux system and hardware identification files and version/release indicators. Attackers often use these artifacts to fingerprint the environment, tailor follow-on behavior, or decide whether specific software or hardware paths are present. It relies on Linux auditd telemetry that records the process path access events matching the specific file patterns listed.

Reporting behind it

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Linux System & Hardware Information Discovery via File and Version Reads

Pivot detection · T1082 · 9 related

Changelog

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-system-and-hardware-information-discovery-via-file-reads-1f358e2e

title: Linux System & Hardware Information Discovery via File and Version Reads
id: 5c145078-1848-4604-b05b-cd812a97ec17
related:
  - id: 42df45e7-e6e9-43b5-8f26-bec5b39cc239
    type: derived
  - id: 1f358e2e-cb63-43c3-b575-dfb072a6814f
    type: derived
status: stable
description: This rule flags process activity that directly reads common Linux system and hardware identification files and version/release indicators. Attackers often use these artifacts to fingerprint the environment, tailor follow-on behavior, or decide whether specific software or hardware paths are present. It relies on Linux auditd telemetry that records the process path access events matching the specific file patterns listed.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1082/T1082.md#atomic-test-4---linux-vm-check-via-hardware
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/auditd/path/lnx_auditd_system_info_discovery2.yml
author: Ömer Günal, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-08
modified: 2022-11-26
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1082
logsource:
  product: linux
  service: auditd
detection:
  selection:
    type: PATH
    name:
      - /sys/class/dmi/id/bios_version
      - /sys/class/dmi/id/product_name
      - /sys/class/dmi/id/chassis_vendor
      - /proc/scsi/scsi
      - /proc/ide/hd0/model
      - /proc/version
      - /etc/*version
      - /etc/*release
      - /etc/issue
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administration activities
level: informational
license: DRL-1.1

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