SSH Authorized Keys File Modificationedit
The Secure Shell (SSH) authorized_keys file specifies which users are allowed to log into a server using public key authentication. Adversaries may modify it to maintain persistence on a victim host by adding their own public key(s).
Rule type: new_terms
Rule indices:
- auditbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.*
Severity: medium
Risk score: 47
Runs every: 5m
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
References: None
Tags:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Linux
- OS: macOS
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Lateral Movement
- Tactic: Persistence
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
Version: 205
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Rule queryedit
event.category:file and event.type:(change or creation) and
file.name:("authorized_keys" or "authorized_keys2" or "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" or "/root/.ssh") and
not process.executable:
(/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/git or
/usr/local/Cellar/maven/*/libexec/bin/mvn or
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk*.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java or
/usr/bin/vim or
/usr/local/Cellar/coreutils/*/bin/gcat or
/usr/bin/bsdtar or
/usr/bin/nautilus or
/usr/bin/scp or
/usr/bin/touch or
/var/lib/docker/* or
/usr/bin/google_guest_agent or
/opt/jc/bin/jumpcloud-agent or
/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/bin/puppet or
/usr/bin/chef-client
)
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Persistence
- ID: TA0003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
-
Technique:
- Name: Account Manipulation
- ID: T1098
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH Authorized Keys
- ID: T1098.004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/004/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Lateral Movement
- ID: TA0008
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/
-
Technique:
- Name: Remote Service Session Hijacking
- ID: T1563
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1563/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH Hijacking
- ID: T1563.001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1563/001/
-
Technique:
- Name: Remote Services
- ID: T1021
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: SSH
- ID: T1021.004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/004/