Deprecated - SSH Process Launched From Inside A Container via Elastic Defend
This rule detects an SSH or SSHD process executed from inside a container. This includes both the client ssh binary and server ssh daemon process. SSH usage inside a container should be avoided and monitored closely…
Description
This rule detects an SSH or SSHD process executed from inside a container. This includes both the client ssh binary and server ssh daemon process. SSH usage inside a container should be avoided and monitored closely when necessary. With valid credentials an attacker may move laterally to other containers or to the underlying host through container breakout. They may also use valid SSH credentials as a persistence mechanism.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- SSH usage may be legitimate depending on the environment. Access patterns and follow-on activity should be analyzed to distinguish between authorized and potentially malicious behavior.
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 |
|---|---|
| microsoft.github.io/Threat-Matrix-for-Kubernetes/techniques/SSH%20server%20running%20inside%20container/ | 3 |
| www.blackhillsinfosec.com/sshazam-hide-your-c2-inside-of-ssh/ | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 5c50ffa6-07f4-4cce-a1b7-c16928a2ed52
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Elastic DefendDomain: ContainerOS: LinuxResources: Investigation GuideTactic: Lateral MovementTactic: PersistenceUse Case: Threat Detection
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 27, 2026
- Version
- 1