Suspicious cloud compute instance ssh keys modification attempt

Cortex XDR Analytics Alert Reference by data source

Product

Cortex XDR

Last date published

2024-12-03

Synopsis

Activation Period	14 Days
Training Period	30 Days
Test Period	N/A (single event)
Deduplication Period	5 Days
Required Data	Requires one of the following data sources: AWS Audit Log OR Azure Audit Log OR Gcp Audit Log
Detection Modules	Cloud
Detector Tags	Cloud Lateral Movement Analytics
ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Informational

Description

An identity attempted to modify the SSH keys of a single compute instance.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to maintain persistence on the cloud instance.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Variations

Suspicious cloud compute instance ssh keys modification attempt by an identity with high administrative activity

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Informational

Description

An identity attempted to modify the SSH keys of a single compute instance.
The identity has high administrative activity
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to maintain persistence on the cloud instance.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Instance SSH keys were modified for the first time in the cloud provider

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	High

Description

An identity has modified the SSH keys of an instance for the first time in the cloud provider.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to maintain persistence on the cloud instance.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Suspicious cloud compute instance SSH keys modification by a service account

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Medium

Description

A service account has modified the SSH keys of a single compute instance.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to maintain persistence on the cloud instance.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Suspicious cloud compute instance SSH keys modification

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Informational

Description

An identity has modified the SSH keys of a single compute instance.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to maintain persistence on the cloud instance.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Suspicious GCP project level metadata modification by a service account

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Low

Description

A service account has modified the metadata of the entire instances in the project.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to perform lateral movement within the project.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Suspicious GCP project level metadata modification

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Informational

Description

An identity account has modified the metadata of the entire instances in the project.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to perform lateral movement within the project.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.

Suspicious GCP project level metadata modification attempt

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic	Persistence (TA0003)
ATT&CK Technique	Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys (T1098.004)
Severity	Informational

Description

An identity account has modified the metadata of the entire instances in the project.
This may indicate an attacker's attempt to perform lateral movement within the project.

Attacker's Goals

Maintain persistence on a compromised compute instance.
Escalate local privileges to gain root on compute instance.

Investigative actions

Investigate if SSH keys were modified or added at the instance or project level.
Investigate which permissions were obtained as a result of the SSH keys modification.