Suspicious MacOS Emond Launch Daemon (via file_event)

title: Suspicious MacOS Emond Launch Daemon (via file_event)
id: c64c0973-5221-5d08-9c23-75a161eff105
status: stable
description: This rule detects additions to the Emond Launch Daemon that threat actors may use to gain persistence and elevate privileges.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/014/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1546.014/T1546.014.md
    - https://posts.specterops.io/leveraging-emond-on-macos-for-persistence-a040a2785124
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-05
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1546.014
logsource:
    category: file_event
    product: macos
detection:
    selection_1:
        TargetFilename|contains: '/etc/emond.d/rules/'
        TargetFilename|endswith: '.plist'
    selection_2:
        TargetFilename|contains: '/private/var/db/emondClients/'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium