Enumeration of Kernel Modulesedit

Loadable Kernel Modules (or LKMs) are pieces of code that can be loaded and unloaded into the kernel upon demand. They extend the functionality of the kernel without the need to reboot the system. This identifies attempts to enumerate information about a kernel module.

Rule type: query

Rule indices:

  • auditbeat-*
  • logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Host
  • Linux
  • Threat Detection
  • Discovery

Version: 7 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.8.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 8.4.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Potential false positivesedit

Security tools and device drivers may run these programs in order to enumerate kernel modules. Use of these programs by ordinary users is uncommon. These can be exempted by process name or username.

Rule queryedit

event.category:process and event.type:(start or process_started) and
process.args:(kmod and list and sudo or sudo and (depmod or lsmod or
modinfo))

Threat mappingedit

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version historyedit

Version 7 (8.4.0 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 6 (7.12.0 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 5 (7.11.2 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 4 (7.10.0 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 3 (7.9.1 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 2 (7.9.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.action:executed and process.args:(kmod and list and sudo or sudo
    and (depmod or lsmod or modinfo))