Techniques › T1059.012 › AN1537
AN1537 Analytic 1537
ESXi · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
<p>Detects suspicious use of ESXi native CLI tools like esxcli and vim-cmd by unauthorized users or outside expected maintenance windows. Focus is on actions such as stopping VMs, reconfiguring network/firewall settings, and enabling SSH or logging.</p>
- Detects
- T1059.012 Hypervisor CLI
- Part of
- DET0558 Detection Strategy for ESXi Hypervisor CLI Abuse
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 |
|---|---|---|
| esxi:vmkernel | esxcli, vim-cmd invocation | DC0064 Command Execution |
| esxi:auth | SSH session/login | DC0002 User Account Authentication |
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 |
|---|---|
TimeWindow | Helps scope detection to off-hours or change control gaps. |
UserContext | Environment-specific users may run these commands as part of normal ops. |
CommandPattern | CLI commands vary by adversary intent (e.g., 'stop', 'reboot', 'firewall set') |