kevmap

TechniquesT1654 › AN0709

AN0709 Analytic 0709

ESXi · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2

<p>Monitor ESXi shell or API access to host logs under /var/log/. Abnormal enumeration of vmkernel.log, hostd.log, or vpxa.log by unauthorized accounts should be flagged.</p>
Detects
T1654 Log Enumeration
Part of
DET0255 Detection Strategy for Log Enumeration

Log sources and channels

Exactly as MITRE states them in x_mitre_log_source_references. Where a channel is vague, it is vague in the source; kevmap does not tidy it.

Log sourceChannelData component
esxi:shellExecution of cat, tail, grep targeting /var/log/vmkernel.log or /var/log/hostd.logDC0064 Command Execution
esxi:hostdread: Access to sensitive log files by non-admin usersDC0055 File Access

Mutable elements

Parameters MITRE marks as environment-specific. These are the knobs you are expected to tune; they are why an analytic is not a rule.

FieldDescription
AdminSessionsCorrelate with legitimate administrator access sessions to reduce noise.