Possible Linux Amazon SSM Agent Hijacking (via process_creation)

title: Possible Linux Amazon SSM Agent Hijacking (via process_creation)
id: d03ee971-7b1b-5112-8b3d-84f9c0afa085
status: stable
description: This rule detects potential Amazon SSM agent hijack attempts as outlined in the Mitiga research report.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/002/
    - https://www.mitiga.io/blog/mitiga-security-advisory-abusing-the-ssm-agent-as-a-remote-access-trojan
    - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/amazons-aws-ssm-agent-can-be-used-as-post-exploitation-rat-malware/
    - https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/08/02/aws-instances-attackers-access/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-11
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/amazon-ssm-agent'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '-register '
            - '-code '
            - '-id '
            - '-region '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium