Detection rules › Elastic

Velociraptor Suspicious Shell Execution

Source
github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts

This rule detects shell executions via Velociraptor. Threat actors have been observed installing Velociraptor to execute shell commands on compromised systems, blending in with legitimate system processes.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Telemetry coverage

Rule body

[rule]
description = """
This rule detects shell executions via Velociraptor. Threat actors have been observed installing Velociraptor to execute
shell commands on compromised systems, blending in with legitimate system processes.
"""
id = "b01cdbdd-40a8-4f7b-b89f-75ca40229769"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Velociraptor Suspicious Shell Execution"
os_list = ["linux", "macos"]
reference = ["https://www.huntress.com/blog/active-exploitation-solarwinds-web-help-desk-cve-2025-26399"]
version = "1.0.1"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.parent.name like~ "velociraptor*" and
process.name in ("bash", "dash", "sh", "tcsh", "csh", "zsh", "ksh", "fish") and process.args in ("-c", "-cl", "-lc", "--command")
'''

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 = "T1059"
name = "Command and Scripting Interpreter"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.004"
name = "Unix Shell"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0002"
name = "Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1218"
name = "System Binary Proxy Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/"


[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1219"
name = "Remote Access Tools"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/"


[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0011"
name = "Command and Control"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0011/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"

Stages and Predicates

Stage 1: process

process where event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.parent.name like~ "velociraptor*" and
process.name in ("bash", "dash", "sh", "tcsh", "csh", "zsh", "ksh", "fish") and process.args in ("-c", "-cl", "-lc", "--command")

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.