Detection rules › Sigma

Suspicious Filename with Embedded Base64 Commands

Status
experimental
Severity
high
Log source
category file_event, product linux
Author
@kostastsale
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects files with specially crafted filenames that embed Base64-encoded bash payloads designed to execute when processed by shell scripts. These filenames exploit shell interpretation quirks to trigger hidden commands, a technique observed in VShell malware campaigns.

Known false positives

  • Legitimate files with similar naming patterns (very unlikely).

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Telemetry coverage

PlatformRecord / event type
LinuxEvent ID 11: File created

Rule body

title: Suspicious Filename with Embedded Base64 Commands
id: 179b3686-6271-4d87-807d-17d843a8af73
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects files with specially crafted filenames that embed Base64-encoded bash payloads designed to execute when processed by shell scripts.
    These filenames exploit shell interpretation quirks to trigger hidden commands, a technique observed in VShell malware campaigns.
references:
    - https://www.trellix.com/blogs/research/the-silent-fileless-threat-of-vshell/
author: '@kostastsale'
date: 2025-11-22
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.004
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - '{echo'
            - '{base64,-d}'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate files with similar naming patterns (very unlikely).
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    TargetFilename|contains:
        - '{echo'
        - '{base64,-d}'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
TargetFilenamematch
  • {base64,-d}
  • {echo
field:"TargetFilename" kind:match