Clear or Disable Kernel Ring Buffer Logs via Syslog Syscall
Detects the use of the `syslog` syscall with action code 5 (SYSLOG_ACTION_CLEAR), (4 is SYSLOG_ACTION_READ_CLEAR and 6 is SYSLOG_ACTION_CONSOLE_OFF) which clears the kernel ring buffer (dmesg logs). This can be used…
Description
Detects the use of the `syslog` syscall with action code 5 (SYSLOG_ACTION_CLEAR), (4 is SYSLOG_ACTION_READ_CLEAR and 6 is SYSLOG_ACTION_CONSOLE_OFF) which clears the kernel ring buffer (dmesg logs). This can be used by attackers to hide traces after exploitation or privilege escalation. A common technique is running `dmesg -c`, which triggers this syscall internally.
Detection logic
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/dmesg.1.html | Only this detection cites it |
| man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/syslog.2.html | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- eca5e022-d368-4043-98e5-9736fb01f72f
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.defense-impairment
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1