Linux File Created In Kernel Driver Directory

name: Linux File Created In Kernel Driver Directory
id: b85bbeec-6326-11ec-9311-acde48001122
version: 11
creation_date: '2022-01-05'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects the creation of files in the Linux kernel/driver directory. It leverages filesystem data to identify new files in this critical directory. This activity is significant because the kernel/driver directory is typically reserved for kernel modules, and unauthorized file creation here can indicate a rootkit installation. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to gain high-level privileges, potentially compromising the entire system by executing code at the kernel level.
data_source:
    - Sysmon for Linux EventID 11
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Filesystem
      WHERE Filesystem.file_path IN ("*/kernel/drivers/*")
      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_file_created_in_kernel_driver_directory_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting logs with the file name, file path, and process_guid executions from your endpoints. If you are using Sysmon, you can use the Add-on for Linux Sysmon from Splunkbase.
known_false_positives: Administrator or network operator can create file in this folders for automation purposes. Please update the filter macros to remove false positives.
references:
    - https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/rawhide/system-administrators-guide/kernel-module-driver-configuration/Working_with_Kernel_Modules/
    - https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/175953/how-to-load-a-malicious-lkm-at-startup
    - https://0x00sec.org/t/kernel-rootkits-getting-your-hands-dirty/1485
intermediate_findings:
    entities:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 20
          message: A file $file_name$ is created in $file_path$ on $dest$
analytic_story:
    - Linux Privilege Escalation
    - Linux Persistence Techniques
    - Linux Rootkit
asset_type: Endpoint
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1547.006
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: endpoint
security_domain: endpoint