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MediumSplunk security contentTeoderick Contreras +1Threat hunting

Linux Edit Cron Table Parameter

The following analytic detects the suspicious editing of cron jobs in Linux using the crontab command-line parameter (-e). It identifies this activity by monitoring command-line executions involving 'crontab' and the…

Description

The following analytic detects the suspicious editing of cron jobs in Linux using the crontab command-line parameter (-e). It identifies this activity by monitoring command-line executions involving 'crontab' and the edit parameter. This behavior is significant for a SOC as cron job manipulations can indicate unauthorized persistence attempts or scheduled malicious actions. If confirmed malicious, this activity could lead to system compromise, unauthorized access, or broader network compromise.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ESXiLinuxmacOS

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

Log source category
sysmon_for_linux_eventid_1

Known benign triggers

  • Administrator or network operator can use this application for automation purposes. Please update the filter macros to remove false positives.

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