Possible ESXi System Information Enumeration Through ESXCLI (via process_creation)

title: Possible ESXi System Information Enumeration Through ESXCLI (via process_creation)
id: de4db116-49a5-5b4d-9695-d68da64d580a
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of the "esxcli" command with the "system" flag to retrieve information about the different component of the system. Such as accounts, modules, NTP, etc.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/012/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1007/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1033/
    - https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/hypervisor-jackpotting-ecrime-actors-increase-targeting-of-esxi-servers/
    - https://developer.broadcom.com/xapis/esxcli-command-reference/7.0.0/namespace/esxcli_system.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-14
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1033
    - attack.t1007
    - attack.t1059.012
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection_img:
        Image|endswith: '/esxcli'
        CommandLine|contains: 'system'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' get'
            - ' list'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium