Linux auditd System Information Discovery via uname, uptime, lsmod, hostname, env, and release file reads

Triggers on auditd events showing host enumeration commands and system identity file access on Linux.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v3

Product: linux
Service: auditd
Author: Pawel Mazur (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-09-03
Updated: 2026-07-31

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 Linux processes and file access indicative of system information discovery, including reads of common release/issue files and execution of utilities such as uname, uptime, lsmod, hostname, env, and kmod list. It also matches grep output patterns that may reveal virtualization or hypervisor-related strings (e.g., vbox, vm, xen, virtio, hv). These actions can help an attacker profile a host for targeting decisions, and the detection relies on auditd telemetry for file PATH access and execve command arguments.

Reporting behind it

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Linux auditd System Information Discovery via uname, uptime, lsmod, hostname, env, and release file 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-information-discovery-via-auditd-uname-uptime-lsmod-hostname-env-f34047d9

title: Linux auditd System Information Discovery via uname, uptime, lsmod, hostname, env, and release file reads
id: 681bd37c-1251-4372-a286-9c0108aeec27
status: test
description: This rule flags Linux processes and file access indicative of system information discovery, including reads of common release/issue files and execution of utilities such as uname, uptime, lsmod, hostname, env, and kmod list. It also matches grep output patterns that may reveal virtualization or hypervisor-related strings (e.g., vbox, vm, xen, virtio, hv). These actions can help an attacker profile a host for targeting decisions, and the detection relies on auditd telemetry for file PATH access and execve command arguments.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f296668303c29d3f4c07e42bdd2b28d8dd6625f9/atomics/T1082/T1082.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/linux/auditd/lnx_auditd_system_info_discovery.yml
author: Pawel Mazur, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-09-03
modified: 2023-03-06
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1082
logsource:
  product: linux
  service: auditd
detection:
  selection_1:
    type: PATH
    name:
      - /etc/lsb-release
      - /etc/redhat-release
      - /etc/issue
  selection_2:
    type: EXECVE
    a0:
      - uname
      - uptime
      - lsmod
      - hostname
      - env
  selection_3:
    type: EXECVE
    a0: grep
    a1|contains:
      - vbox
      - vm
      - xen
      - virtio
      - hv
  selection_4:
    type: EXECVE
    a0: kmod
    a1: list
  condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Likely
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: f34047d9-20d3-4e8b-8672-0a35cc50dc71
    type: derived

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