Threaticon
Toggle sidebar

You're viewing a limited, public preview. Log in for full access.

Log in User Guide
Log in Get started
Detection Strategies DET0516 — Behavioral Detection of Command and Scripting Interpreter Abuse
DET0516

Behavioral Detection of Command and Scripting Interpreter Abuse

5 analytic(s) · 1 technique(s) detected

Analytics

5
AN1428 Analytic 1428
Windows

Detects the execution of scripting or command interpreters (e.g., powershell.exe, cmd.exe, wscript.exe) outside expected administrative time windows or from abnormal user contexts, often followed by encoded/obfuscated arguments or secondary execution events.

WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1
[CommandLinePattern] Tunable to match encoded or uncommon script execution patterns specific to the environment.
[ParentProcessName] May vary across managed/unmanaged workstations or user-driven script activity.
[TimeWindow] Used to restrict analysis to work hours or known admin maintenance windows.
AN1429 Analytic 1429
Linux

Detects use of shell interpreters (e.g., bash, sh, python, perl) initiated by users or processes not normally executing them, especially when chaining suspicious utilities like netcat, curl, or ssh.

auditd:SYSCALL execve
[InterpreterName] Regex to identify which interpreters (bash, python, ruby) to monitor based on typical usage.
[UserContext] Scope to users or service accounts not expected to run interpreters interactively.
[ExecutionChainLength] Defines maximum process tree depth to correlate interpreter execution with its effects.
AN1430 Analytic 1430
macOS

Detects launch of command-line interpreters via Terminal, Automator, or hidden `osascript`, especially when parent process lineage deviates from user-initiated applications.

macos:unifiedlog log stream --info --predicate 'eventMessage CONTAINS "exec"'
[LaunchAgentName] Monitor for specific plist agents frequently abused for persistence or payload execution.
[ScriptName] Path or script name pattern (e.g., hidden files, /tmp locations).
[TerminalAppUsage] Adjust based on whether Terminal.app use is common or restricted in user policy.
AN1431 Analytic 1431
ESXi

Detects use of 'esxcli system' or direct interpreter commands (e.g., busybox shell) invoked from SSH or host terminal unexpectedly.

esxi:vobd shell session start
[ShellEnabledFlag] Control alerting based on whether ESXi shell access is typically disabled.
[SSHContext] Scope detection to SSH session origins or internal vs. remote access.
AN1432 Analytic 1432
Network Devices

Identifies CLI interpreter access (e.g., Cisco IOS, Juniper JUNOS) via `enable` mode or scripting-capable sessions used by uncommon accounts or from unknown IPs.

networkdevice:cli shell command networkdevice:syslog authentication & authorization
[UserRole] Which roles or privilege levels should be monitored for interpreter misuse.
[DeviceType] Support filtering for routers, switches, firewalls depending on network segmentation.

Detected Techniques

1

Details

MITRE ID
DET0516
STIX ID
x-mitre-detection-strategy--8582f5e6-44a5-4950-b7e8-a3e1b6d58d63
Analytics
5
Techniques Detected
1
By Tactic
Execution
1
Leaving Threaticon

This link opens an external site that isn't part of the platform.