EXPLORE DETECTIONS
File Download Detected via Defend for Containers
This rule detects the download of files from inside a container. The files are downloaded using the "curl" or "wget" command-line tools. Adversaries may use these tools to download files from the internet to gain access to sensitive data or communicate with C2 servers.
File Downloaded by Curl/Wget and Piped to Interpreter
This rule detects when a file is downloaded by curl or wget, and piped to an interpreter. Attackers may use this technique to download and execute payloads for various malicious purposes, such as establishing persistence or exfiltrating data.
File Execution Permission Modification Detected via Defend for Containers
This rule detects when chmod is used to add the execute permission to a file inside a container. Modifying file permissions to make a file executable could indicate malicious activity, as an attacker may attempt to run unauthorized or malicious code inside the container.
File made Immutable by Chattr
Detects a file being made immutable using the chattr binary. Making a file immutable means it cannot be deleted or renamed, no link can be created to this file, most of the file's metadata can not be modified, and the file can not be opened in write mode. Threat actors will commonly utilize this to prevent tampering or modification of their malicious files or any system files they have modified for purposes of persistence (e.g .ssh, /etc/passwd, etc.).
File Permission Modification in Writable Directory
Identifies file permission modifications in common writable directories by a non-root user. Adversaries often drop files or payloads into a writable directory and change permissions prior to execution.
File System Debugger Launched Inside a Container
This rule detects the use of the built-in Linux DebugFS utility from inside a container. DebugFS is a special file system debugging utility which supports reading and writing directly from a hard drive device. When launched inside a privileged container, a container deployed with all the capabilities of the host machine, an attacker can access sensitive host level files which could be used for further privilege escalation and container escapes to the host machine.
File Transfer or Listener Established via Netcat
A netcat process is engaging in network activity on a Linux host. Netcat is often used as a persistence mechanism by exporting a reverse shell or by serving a shell on a listening port. Netcat is also sometimes used for data exfiltration.
File Transfer Utility Launched from Unusual Parent
This rule leverages ESQL to detect the execution of unusual file transfer utilities on Linux systems. Attackers may use these utilities to exfiltrate data from a compromised system. ESQL rules have limited fields available in its alert documents. Make sure to review the original documents to aid in the investigation of this alert.
File with Right-to-Left Override Character (RTLO) Created/Executed
Identifies the creation or execution of files or processes with names containing the Right-to-Left Override (RTLO) character, which can be used to disguise the file extension and trick users into executing malicious files.
Finder Sync Plugin Registered and Enabled
Finder Sync plugins enable users to extend Finder’s functionality by modifying the user interface. Adversaries may abuse this feature by adding a rogue Finder Plugin to repeatedly execute malicious payloads for persistence.
First Occurrence of Okta User Session Started via Proxy
Identifies the first occurrence of an Okta user session started via a proxy.
First Seen SonicWall Remote Access Login by User and Source
Identifies a successful SonicWall VPN- or WAN-zone administrator or remote-user login from a source IP that was not previously observed with the same user on the same appliance during the prior 14 days. This may indicate stolen credentials, compromised administrator access, or unauthorized remote access.
First Time AWS CloudFormation Stack Creation
This rule detects the first time a principal calls AWS CloudFormation CreateStack, CreateStackSet or CreateStackInstances API. CloudFormation is used to create a collection of cloud resources called a stack, via a defined template file. An attacker with the appropriate privileges could leverage CloudFormation to create specific resources needed to further exploit the environment. This is a new terms rule that looks for the first instance of this behavior for a role or IAM user within a particular account.
First Time Python Accessed Sensitive Credential Files
Detects the first time a Python process accesses sensitive credential files on a given host. This behavior may indicate post-exploitation credential theft via a malicious Python script, compromised dependency, or malicious model file deserialization. Legitimate Python processes do not typically access credential files such as SSH keys, AWS credentials, browser cookies, Kerberos tickets, or keychain databases, so a first occurrence is a strong indicator of compromise.
First Time Python Created a LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon
Detects the first time a Python process creates or modifies a LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon plist file on a given host. Malicious Python scripts, compromised dependencies, or model file deserialization can establish persistence on macOS by writing plist files to LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon directories. Legitimate Python processes do not typically create persistence mechanisms, so a first occurrence is a strong indicator of compromise.
First Time Python Spawned a Shell on Host
Detects the first time a Python process spawns a shell on a given host. Malicious Python scripts, compromised dependencies, or model file deserialization can result in shell spawns that would not occur during normal workflows. Since legitimate Python processes rarely shell out to interactive shells, a first occurrence of this behavior on a host is a strong signal of potential compromise.
First Time Seen Account Performing DCSync
This rule identifies when a User Account starts the Active Directory Replication Process for the first time. Attackers can use the DCSync technique to get credential information of individual accounts or the entire domain, thus compromising the entire domain.
First Time Seen AWS Secret Value Accessed in Secrets Manager
An adversary with access to a compromised AWS service such as an EC2 instance, Lambda function, or other service may attempt to leverage the compromised service to access secrets in AWS Secrets Manager. This rule looks for the first time a specific user identity has programmatically retrieved a secret value from Secrets Manager using the GetSecretValue action. This rule assumes that AWS services such as Lambda functions and EC2 instances are setup with IAM role's assigned that have the necessary permissions to access the secrets in Secrets Manager. An adversary with access to a compromised AWS service would rely on its' attached role to access the secrets in Secrets Manager.
First Time Seen DNS Query to RMM Domain
Detects DNS queries to commonly abused remote monitoring and management (RMM) or remote access software domains from processes that are not browsers. Intended to surface RMM clients, scripts, or other non-browser activity contacting these services.
First Time Seen Driver Loaded
Identifies the load of a driver with an original file name and signature values that were observed for the first time during the last 30 days. This rule type can help baseline drivers installation within your environment.
First Time Seen Google Workspace OAuth Login from Third-Party Application
Detects the first time a user authorizes a third-party Google OAuth application that requests identity or sign-in scopes. Adversaries may abuse compromised credentials or phishing-linked consent flows to register novel OAuth clients, obtain refresh tokens, and authenticate as valid users while evading password-only detections.
First Time Seen Memcached Writer
Identifies the first successful or no-reply Memcached store command from a client to a server. Memcached commonly has no authentication, so an unauthorized writer can overwrite session tokens, poison cached application content, or alter security-sensitive state. This behavior can enable session hijacking such as the exposure described by CVE-2026-29093.
First Time Seen NewCredentials Logon Process
Identifies a new credentials logon type performed by an unusual process. This may indicate the existence of an access token forging capability that are often abused to bypass access control restrictions.
First Time Seen NFS AUTH_SYS Root UID Access
Identifies the first source and destination IP pair observed in a five-day history window where an NFS client asserts AUTH_SYS (RPC UNIX) credentials with UID 0 (root). NFSv3 and NFSv4 clients can claim arbitrary UIDs through AUTH_SYS, and weak export controls may honor root-equivalent access from unexpected hosts. This is a common precursor to unauthorized mounts, sensitive file reads, and remote encryption of exported shares.