IMPORTANT: No additional bug fixes or documentation updates will be released for this version. For the latest information, see the current release documentation.
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« SSH (Secure Shell) to the Internet Strace Process Activity »

Socat Process Activityedit

A Socat process is running on a Linux host. Socat is often used as a persistence mechanism by exporting a reverse shell, or by serving a shell on a listening port. Socat is also sometimes used for lateral movement.

Rule indices:

  • auditbeat-*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-6m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum signals per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Linux

Rule version: 1

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.6.0

Potential false positivesedit

Socat is a dual-use tool that can be used for benign or malicious activity. Some normal use of this program, at varying levels of frequency, may originate from scripts, automation tools, and frameworks. Usage by web servers is more likely to be suspicious.

Rule queryedit

process.name:socat and not process.args:"-V" and event.action:executed
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