Linux Magic SysRq Key Abuse
Detects potential abuse of the Linux Magic SysRq (System Request) key by adversaries with root or sufficient privileges to manipulate or destabilize a system. Writing to /proc/sysrq-trigger can crash the system, kill…
Description
Detects potential abuse of the Linux Magic SysRq (System Request) key by adversaries with root or sufficient privileges to manipulate or destabilize a system. Writing to /proc/sysrq-trigger can crash the system, kill processes, or bypass standard logging. Monitoring SysRq abuse helps detect stealthy post-exploitation activity. Correlate with related EXECVE or PROCTITLE events to identify the process or user responsible for the access or modification.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 4 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- linux_auditd_cwdlinux_auditd_path
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate administrative activity modifying SysRq for debugging or recovery. 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 |
|---|---|
| docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/4/html/reference_guide/s3-proc-sys-kernel | 2from 2 sources |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1489/T1489.yaml#L157 | 3 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1529/T1529.yaml#L282 | 2 |
| www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.10/_sources/admin-guide/sysrq.txt | 2from 2 sources |
| www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/threat-update-awfulshred-script-wiper.html | 2from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 22c03600-f84a-47fa-abaa-ffbe3e72c782
- Tagged by the source as
- Compromised Linux HostEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 2