Malicious WordPress Webshell session-manager PHP in mu-plugins

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
linux
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-08-15
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 creation of a session-manager.php file inside the WordPress must use plugins directory. ErrTraffic deploys this file as a persistent server side backdoor on compromised WordPress installations. A PHP file named session-manager.php dropped into mu-plugins is characteristic of this web shell and rarely legitimate.

Related detections9 linkedT1505.003 — drag to rearrange
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning Command Shell for Webshell Reconnaissance (via process_creation)
Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Suspicious PHP Webshell Access with Hardcoded Key
Suspicious IIS Configuration Reconnaissance via Appcmd (via process_creation)
Malicious ManagementMailboxPicker Webshell Written by Diplomatic Specter
Malicious MOVEit human2 Webshell File Creation via file_event
Suspicious Double-Extension Web Shell Upload via Nagios XI Custom Includes
Suspicious Malicious WAR Deployment via GlassFish Admin Console
Suspicious JSP Webshell Compiled Class Creation in Web Application Work Directory
Malicious WordPress Webshell session-manager PHP in mu-plugins
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.