Attempt to Clear Kernel Ring Buffer via Dmesg


Description

Monitors for the deletion of the kernel ring buffer events through dmesg. Attackers may clear kernel ring buffer events to evade detection after installing a Linux kernel module (LKM). This activity is commonly observed by intrusions that leverage kernel-level rootkits to maintain persistence on a compromised host.

Query · eql

process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
process.name == "dmesg" and process.args in ("-c", "-C", "--clear", "--read-clear") and
not process.parent.executable == "/tmp/newroot/usr/bin/sudo"
Raw source Attempt to Clear Kernel Ring Buffer via Dmesg · Elastic TOML
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Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
[rule]
description = """
Monitors for the deletion of the kernel ring buffer events through dmesg. Attackers may clear kernel ring buffer events
to evade detection after installing a Linux kernel module (LKM). This activity is commonly observed by intrusions that
leverage kernel-level rootkits to maintain persistence on a compromised host.
"""
id = "116d477e-8dd3-4de6-bbfd-9c19ca37fb8b"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Attempt to Clear Kernel Ring Buffer via Dmesg"
os_list = ["linux"]
version = "1.0.2"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and
process.name == "dmesg" and process.args in ("-c", "-C", "--clear", "--read-clear") and
not process.parent.executable == "/tmp/newroot/usr/bin/sudo"
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.parent.entity_id"
state = 0

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1070"
name = "Indicator Removal"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1070.002"
name = "Clear Linux or Mac System Logs"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/002/"


[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1562"
name = "Impair Defenses"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1562.001"
name = "Disable or Modify Tools"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/001/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"

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