Possible XCSSET Malware Infection (via process_creation)

title: Possible XCSSET Malware Infection (via process_creation)
id: 0ebab0fd-3413-5699-8915-e4cd65878155
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution traces of the XCSSET malware. XCSSET is a macOS trojan that primarily spreads via Xcode projects and maliciously modifies applications. Infected users are also vulnerable to having their credentials, accounts, and other vital data stolen.
references:
    - https://github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts/commit/746086721fd385d9f5c6647cada1788db4aea95f#diff-f5deb07688e1a8dec9530bc3071967b2da5c16b482e671812b864c37beb28f08
    - https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/osx.xcsset
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-09
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.execution
    - attack.collection
    - attack.t1071.001
    - attack.t1059.002
    - attack.t1560.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: macos
detection:
    selection_1_curl:
        ParentImage|endswith: '/bash'
        Image|endswith: '/curl'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '/sys/log.php'
            - '/sys/prepod.php'
            - '/sys/bin/Pods'
    selection_1_https:
        CommandLine|contains: 'https://'
    selection_other_1:
        ParentImage|endswith: '/bash'
        Image|endswith: '/osacompile'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/Users/'
            - '/Library/Group Containers/'
    selection_other_2:
        ParentImage|endswith: '/bash'
        Image|endswith: '/plutil'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'LSUIElement'
            - '/Users/'
            - '/Library/Group Containers/'
    selection_other_3:
        Image|endswith: '/zip'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '-r'
            - '/Users/'
            - '/Library/Group Containers/'
    condition: all of selection_1_* or 1 of selection_other_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium