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InformationalSplunk security contentMatthew Moore +1

Kubernetes Shell Running on Worker Node with CPU Activity

The following analytic identifies shell activity within the Kubernetes privilege scope on a worker node, specifically when shell processes are consuming CPU resources. It leverages process metrics from an OTEL…

Description

The following analytic identifies shell activity within the Kubernetes privilege scope on a worker node, specifically when shell processes are consuming CPU resources. It leverages process metrics from an OTEL collector hostmetrics receiver, pulled from Splunk Observability Cloud via the Splunk Infrastructure Monitoring Add-on, focusing on process.cpu.utilization and process.memory.utilization. This activity is significant as unauthorized shell processes can indicate a security threat, potentially compromising the node and the entire Kubernetes cluster. If confirmed malicious, attackers could gain full control over the host's resources, leading to data theft, service disruption, privilege escalation, and further attacks within the cluster.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersIaaSLinuxmacOSWindows

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

Known benign triggers

  • No false positives have been identified at this time.

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