Suspicious Base64 Decoded Payload Piped to Shell on Linux

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.004Unix Shell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a base64 decode operation piped directly into a shell interpreter which was used after SAP NetWeaver exploitation to deobfuscate and run attacker payloads. Chaining base64 decoding into sh or bash lets adversaries hide command content from simple monitoring. Detecting this pattern surfaces obfuscated command execution on compromised Linux hosts.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Base64 Decoded Payload Piped to Shell on Linux

Pivot detection · T1059.004 · 9 related

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

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