Suspicious PHP Webshell Access under WordPress Cache Directory

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Category
webserver
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-06-15
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Persistence
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Priv Esc

  5. Defense Evasion

  6. Cred Access

  7. Discovery

  8. Lateral Movement

  9. Collection

  10. C2

  11. Exfiltration

  12. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects HTTP requests to a PHP file located in the WordPress wp-content cache directory. Legitimate WordPress caching stores static HTML and never executable PHP, so a PHP file served from this path indicates a dropped webshell used for post exploitation command execution.

Related detections9 linkedT1505.003 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Malicious China Chopper Web Shell Command Pattern in IIS Worker Process (via process_creation)
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning Command Shell after ASP.NET ViewState Injection (via process_creation)
Possible Oracle Opera CGI Webshell Command Execution via operabin
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning Command Shell for Webshell Reconnaissance (via process_creation)
Suspicious PHP Webshell Access with Hardcoded Key
Suspicious IIS Configuration Reconnaissance via Appcmd (via process_creation)
Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by Excel via DarkGate Lure
Suspicious AutoHotkey Script Execution from User Writable Path by DarkGate
Suspicious PHP Webshell Access under WordPress Cache Directory
Pivot detection · T1505.003 · 9 related

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