Suspicious System Profiler Hardware Enumeration (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion → Discovery

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1497.001System Checks
Cred Access
Discovery
- T1082System Information Discovery
- T1497.001System Checks
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects system_profiler querying SPHardwareDataType which the Cosmic Leopard macOS implant uses to fingerprint the host and detect virtual or analysis environments. Hardware enumeration is an early discovery step that informs targeting and sandbox evasion decisions.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1082 — drag to rearrange

MacOS Sysctl Usage for System Discovery (hw., kern., machdep.)

macOS Process Execution of system_profiler for System Discovery via Specific Data Types

Malicious Turla Kopiluwak Reconnaissance Output to Windows Temp via process_creation

Suspicious HeartCrypt Sandbox Detection DLL Load

Possible DarkCloud Geo-IP Lookup to showip.net

Suspicious Windows Defender Support Directory Enumeration via Process Creation

Suspicious System Reconnaissance via Windows Script Host

Suspicious Host Reconnaissance Command Chain via cmd

Malicious DinodasRAT Hidden Config File Creation on Linux (via file_event)

Suspicious System Profiler Hardware Enumeration (via process_creation)

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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