Suspicious Meterpreter Host Discovery File Reads on Linux via file_event

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access → Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003.008/etc/passwd and /etc/shadow
Discovery
- T1082System Information Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a process reading the host machine identifier together with the kernel network routing table, a discovery pattern exhibited by Meterpreter payloads on Linux during post-exploitation. This combination is used to fingerprint the host and enumerate network configuration before further action. Access to both of these uncommon paths by the same process is a strong indicator of in-memory implant activity.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Meterpreter Host Discovery File Reads on Linux via file_event

Pivot detection · T1082 · 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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