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Linux Suspicious XDG Autostart

The following analytic detects the creation of a .desktop file within XDG autostart directories, including the system-wide /etc/xdg/autostart and user-local ~/.config/autostart paths. Adversaries abuse XDG autostart…

Description

The following analytic detects the creation of a .desktop file within XDG autostart directories, including the system-wide /etc/xdg/autostart and user-local ~/.config/autostart paths. Adversaries abuse XDG autostart entries to achieve persistence on Linux desktop environments — any .desktop file placed in these directories is automatically executed when a user logs into a graphical session. This technique is used by post-exploitation frameworks such as PANIX to survive reboots without requiring root on user-local paths, or to achieve system-wide persistence when writing to /etc/xdg/autostart.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ESXiLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_for_linux_eventid_11

Known benign triggers

  • Legitimate software installations may create .desktop files in /etc/xdg/autostart as part of their normal setup process. Filter known software deployment tools and approved administrative activity as needed.

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