Suspicious Credential File Discovery via Find on Linux

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1552.001Credentials In Files
- T1552.004Private Keys
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects use of the find utility to recursively search common home and system directories for environment key and credential files which React2Shell CVE-2025-55182 post-exploitation scripts use to locate AWS SSH and application secrets for theft. Broad filesystem searches targeting env and key extensions indicate automated credential discovery on a compromised host.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1552.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Process Memory Read from Proc Mem for Secret Extraction

Suspicious Access to Cloud and Database Credential Files via Process

Suspicious Credential Exfiltration to webhook.site (via dns_query)

Suspicious Shai-Hulud Worm Stager Execution from Temp (via process_creation)

Suspicious prt-scan Campaign Credential Harvesting via proc environ Scan (via process_creation)

Possible Stolen AWS Credential Validation via STS GetCallerIdentity

Suspicious Credential File Discovery via Find on Linux

Pivot detection · T1552.001 · 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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