Suspicious Kubernetes CronJob/Job Change (via audit)

title: Suspicious Kubernetes CronJob/Job Change (via audit)
id: bffb49e4-0fee-5cbe-a86e-ab04edac7ba0
status: stable
description: This rule detects when a Kubernetes CronJob or Job is created or modified. A Kubernetes Job generates one or more pods to accomplish a specific task, and a CronJob generates Jobs on a recurring schedule. An adversary can take advantage of this Kubernetes object to schedule Jobs to run containers that execute hostile code within a cluster, allowing them to achieve persistence.
references:
    - https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/config-api/apiserver-audit.v1/
    - https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/protecting-kubernetes-against-mitre-attck-persistence#technique-33-kubernetes-cronjob
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-15
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1053.007
logsource:
    product: kubernetes
    service: audit
detection:
    selection:
        objectRef.apiGroup: 'batch'
        objectRef.resource:
            - 'cronjobs'
            - 'jobs'
        verb:
            - 'create'
            - 'delete'
            - 'patch'
            - 'replace'
            - 'update'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium