Suspicious SSH Daemon Configuration Change Enabling Root Login

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1078Valid Accounts
Execution
Persistence
- T1078Valid Accounts
- T1098.004SSH Authorized Keys
Priv Esc
- T1078Valid Accounts
- T1098.004SSH Authorized Keys
Defense Evasion
- T1078Valid Accounts
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects command line modification of the SSH daemon configuration to enable root login which DripDropper performs to strengthen its foothold on compromised cloud Linux hosts. Allowing direct root SSH access gives adversaries durable privileged remote access. Detecting edits that set PermitRootLogin surfaces account manipulation used for persistence.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1078 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious dMSA Object Access with Migration AccessMask

Malicious ESX Admins Group Added to Privileged Directory Group

Malicious ESX Admins Group Creation via WinRM Host

Malicious SSH authorized_keys Overwrite With Outlaw Marker

Malicious SSH authorized_keys Modification for Persistence on Appliance

Suspicious BrightMetricAgent Remote Tool Execution Associated With Volt Typhoon

Suspicious SSH Daemon Configuration Change Enabling Root Login

Pivot detection · T1078 · 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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