Malicious Webshell Written to Citrix NetScaler VPN Theme Directory (via file_event)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
linux
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-07-23
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Priv Esc

  6. Defense Evasion

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the post-exploitation stage of Citrix NetScaler CVE-2026-8452 where a php webshell is dropped into the vpn theme directory after a pre-auth heap overflow. A php file in this template directory indicates appliance compromise.

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Malicious Webshell Written to Citrix NetScaler VPN Theme Directory (via file_event)
Pivot detection · T1505.003 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.