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Python WebServer Execution - Linux

Detects the execution of Python web servers via command line interface (CLI). After gaining access to target systems, adversaries may use Python's built-in HTTP server modules to quickly establish a web server without requiring additional software. This technique is commonly used in post-exploitation scenarios as it provides a simple method for transferring files between the compromised host and attacker-controlled systems.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1048.003

exfiltration

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith:
      - /python
      - /python2
      - /python3
  - Image|contains:
      - /python2.
      - /python3.
selection_module:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - http.server
    - SimpleHTTPServer
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Mohamed LAKRI

Created

2025-10-17

Data Sources

linuxProcess Creation Events

Platforms

linux

References

Tags

attack.exfiltrationattack.t1048.003

Raw Content

title: Python WebServer Execution - Linux
id: 3f0f5957-04f8-4792-ad89-192b0303bde6
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the execution of Python web servers via command line interface (CLI).
    After gaining access to target systems, adversaries may use Python's built-in HTTP server modules to quickly establish a web server without requiring additional software.
    This technique is commonly used in post-exploitation scenarios as it provides a simple method for transferring files between the compromised host and attacker-controlled systems.
references:
    - https://www.atomicredteam.io/atomic-red-team/atomics/T1048.003#atomic-test-8---python3-httpserver
    - https://docs.python.org/3/library/http.server.html
    - https://docs.python.org/2/library/simplehttpserver.html
author: Mohamed LAKRI
date: 2025-10-17
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '/python'
              - '/python2'
              - '/python3'
        - Image|contains:
              - '/python2.'  # python image is always of the form ../python3.10; ../python is just a symlink
              - '/python3.'
    selection_module:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'http.server'
            - 'SimpleHTTPServer'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Testing or development activity
level: medium