System Hosts File Access

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Identifies the use of built-in tools to read the contents of \etc\hosts on a local machine. Attackers may use this data to discover remote machines in an environment that may be used for Lateral Movement from the current system.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 60m

Searches indices from: now-119m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References: None

Tags:

  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Linux
  • OS: macOS
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Discovery
  • Rule Type: BBR
  • Data Source: Elastic Defend

Version: 2

Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

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process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
    (process.name:("vi", "nano", "cat", "more", "less") and process.args : "/etc/hosts")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM