Linux Sudoers Tmp File Creation
The following analytic detects the creation of the "sudoers.tmp" file, which occurs when editing the /etc/sudoers file using visudo or another editor on a Linux platform. This detection leverages filesystem data to…
Description
The following analytic detects the creation of the "sudoers.tmp" file, which occurs when editing the /etc/sudoers file using visudo or another editor on a Linux platform. This detection leverages filesystem data to identify the presence of "sudoers.tmp" files. Monitoring this activity is crucial as adversaries may exploit it to gain elevated privileges on a compromised host. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to modify sudoers configurations, potentially granting them unauthorized access to execute commands as other users, including root, thereby compromising the system's security.
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_11
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 |
|---|---|
| forum.ubuntuusers.de/topic/sudo-visudo-gibt-etc-sudoers-tmp/ | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- be254a5c-63e7-11ec-89da-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