Linux 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 Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on processes like "cat,"…
Description
The following analytic detects potential access or modification of the /etc/sudoers file on a Linux system. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on processes like "cat," "nano," "vim," and "vi" accessing the /etc/sudoers file. This activity is significant because the sudoers file controls user permissions for executing commands with elevated privileges. 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
- sysmon_for_linux_eventid_1
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
- 4479539c-71fc-11ec-b2e2-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- China-Nexus Threat ActivityLinux 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
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1