Techniques › T1556.003 › AN1251
AN1251 Analytic 1251
macOS · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
<p>Detects suspicious changes to macOS authorization and PAM plugin files. Correlates file modifications under /etc/pam.d/ or /Library/Security/SecurityAgentPlugins with unexpected authentication attempts or anomalous account usage.</p>
- Detects
- T1556.003 Pluggable Authentication Modules
- Part of
- DET0454 Detect Malicious Modification of Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)
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 source | Channel | Data component |
|---|---|---|
| macos:unifiedlog | authentication plugin load or modification events | DC0067 Logon Session Creation |
| macos:osquery | write | DC0061 File Modification |
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.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
WatchedPlugins | Expected set of PAM and authorization plugins; unknown additions may indicate malicious insertion. |
CorrelatedSources | Cross-correlation with VPN/physical access logs to identify impossible or anomalous login patterns. |