Suspicious Remove Scheduled Cron Task/Job (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Remove Scheduled Cron Task/Job (via process_creation)
id: f68f36b4-df7d-5759-9a0c-112a7f2515fc
status: stable
description: This rule detects use of the 'crontab' utility to remove the current crontab. This is a common occurrence where cryptocurrency miners compete against each other by removing traces of other miners to hijack the maximum amount of resources possible
references:
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/i/how-malicious-actors-abuse-native-linux-tools-in-their-attacks.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1053.003
    - attack.t1070
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: 'crontab'
        CommandLine|contains: ' -r'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium