splApache-2.0from splunk/security_content

Linux Deletion Of Services

The following analytic detects the deletion of services on a Linux machine. It leverages filesystem event logs to identify when service files within system directories (e.g., /etc/systemd/, /lib/systemd/, /run/systemd/) are deleted. This activity is significant because attackers may delete or modify services to disable security features or evade defenses. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could indicate an attempt to impair system functionality or execute a destructive payload, potentially leading to system instability or data loss. Immediate investigation is required to determine the responsible process and user.

Quality

FP risk

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Forks

Views

Rule sourcedetections/endpoint/linux_deletion_of_services.yml

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Filesystem
  WHERE Filesystem.action=deleted Filesystem.file_path IN ( "/etc/systemd/*", "*/lib/systemd/*", "*/run/systemd/*") Filesystem.file_path = "*.service"
  BY Filesystem.action Filesystem.dest Filesystem.file_access_time
     Filesystem.file_create_time Filesystem.file_hash Filesystem.file_modify_time
     Filesystem.file_name Filesystem.file_path Filesystem.file_acl
     Filesystem.file_size Filesystem.process_guid Filesystem.process_id
     Filesystem.user Filesystem.vendor_product
| `drop_dm_object_name(Filesystem)`
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `linux_deletion_of_services_filter`