System Hosts File Access

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.*
• endgame-*
• auditbeat-*
• logs-auditd_manager.auditd-*

Rule Severity: low
Risk Score: 21
Runs every: 60m
Searches indices from: now-119m
Maximum alerts per execution: ?
References:

Tags:

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

Version: ?
Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

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

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• Tactic:

  • Name: Discovery
  • Id: TA0007
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/

• Technique:

  • Name: Remote System Discovery
  • Id: T1018
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1018/