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Python Path File (pth) Creation

This rule detects the creation of .pth files in system-wide and user-specific Python package directories, which can be abused for persistent code execution. .pth files automatically execute Python code when the…

Description

This rule detects the creation of .pth files in system-wide and user-specific Python package directories, which can be abused for persistent code execution. .pth files automatically execute Python code when the interpreter starts, making them a stealthy persistence mechanism. Monitoring these paths helps identify unauthorized modifications that could indicate persistence by an attacker or malicious package injection.

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
ContainersESXiIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteSaaSWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
event_index

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