Linux Auditd Possible Access To Sudoers File
The following analytic detects potential access or modification of the /etc/sudoers file on a Linux system. It leverages data from Linux Auditd, focusing on events of type PATH or CWD. This activity could be…
Description
The following analytic detects potential access or modification of the /etc/sudoers file on a Linux system. It leverages data from Linux Auditd, focusing on events of type PATH or CWD. This activity could be significant because the sudoers file controls user permissions for executing commands with elevated privileges. Correlate this with related EXECVE or PROCTITLE events to identify the process or user responsible for the access or modification. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could gain persistence or escalate privileges, compromising the security of the targeted host.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- linux_auditd_cwdlinux_auditd_path
Known benign triggers
- Administrator or network operator can execute this command. Please update the filter macros to remove false positives.
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 |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/003/ | 4 |
| web.archive.org/web/20210708035426/https://www.cobaltstrike.com/downloads/csmanual43.pdf | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 8be88f46-f7e8-4ae6-b15e-cf1b13392834
- Tagged by the source as
- China-Nexus Threat ActivityCompromised Linux HostLinux Persistence TechniquesLinux Privilege EscalationSalt TyphoonEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1