splApache-2.0from splunk/security_content

Linux Possible Ssh Key File Creation

The following analytic detects the creation of SSH key files in the ~/.ssh/ directory. It leverages filesystem data to identify new files in this specific path. This activity is significant because threat actors often create SSH keys to gain persistent access and escalate privileges on a compromised host. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to remotely access the machine using the OpenSSH daemon service, leading to potential unauthorized control and data exfiltration.

Quality

FP risk

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Rule sourcedetections/endpoint/linux_possible_ssh_key_file_creation.yml

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Filesystem
  WHERE Filesystem.file_path IN ("*/.ssh*")
  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(lastTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `linux_possible_ssh_key_file_creation_filter`