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MediumSplunk security contentThreat hunting

LLM Model File Creation

Detects the creation of Large Language Model (LLM) files on Windows endpoints by monitoring file creation events for specific model file formats and extensions commonly used by local AI frameworks. This detection identifies potential shadow AI deployments, unauthorized model downloads, and rogue LLM infrastructure by detecting file creation patterns associated with quantized models (.gguf, .ggml), safetensors model format files, and Ollama Modelfiles. These file types are characteristic of local inference frameworks such as Ollama, llama.cpp, GPT4All, LM Studio, and similar tools that enable running LLMs locally without cloud dependencies. Organizations can use this detection to identify potential data exfiltration risks, policy violations related to unapproved AI usage, and security blind spots created by decentralized AI deployments that bypass enterprise governance and monitoring.

ATT&CK coverage

Outside the enterprise matrix

T1543Create or Modify System Process 103 detections cover this technique

Detection requirements

Log source category: sysmon_eventid_11

What the source says

What fires this without an attack behind it

Legitimate creation of LLM model files by authorized developers, ML engineers, and researchers during model training, fine-tuning, or experimentation. Approved AI/ML sandboxes and lab environments where model file creation is expected. Automated ML pipelines and workflows that generate or update model files as part of their normal operation. Third-party applications and services that manage or cache LLM model files for legitimate purposes.

References

Tagged by the source as

Suspicious Local LLM FrameworksEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint

Detection logic

Published to signed-in readers

The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form, and the content hash that pins this exact revision.

LLM Model File Creation