Linux: Timestomping using Touch Command

Rule ID

PH_Rule_TH_Linux_14

Default Status

Enabled

Description

Detects attempts to modify file time attributes. Timestomping is an anti-forensics technique to modify the timestamps of a file, often to mimic files that are in the same folder, so that they do not appear conspicuous to forensic investigators or file analysis tools. This requires process monitoring via FortiSIEM Linux agent.

Severity

MITRE ATT&CK® Tactics

Defense Evasion

Defense Evasion consists of techniques that adversaries use to avoid detection throughout their compromise. Techniques used for defense evasion include uninstalling/disabling security software or obfuscating/encrypting data and scripts. Adversaries also leverage and abuse trusted processes to hide and masquerade their malware. Other tactics’ techniques are cross-listed here when those techniques include the added benefit of subverting defenses.

https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005

MITRE ATT&CK® Techniques

T1070.006

Indicator Removal on Host: Timestomp

Adversaries may modify file time attributes to hide new or changes to existing files. Timestomping is a technique that modifies the timestamps of a file (the modify, access, create, and change times), often to mimic files that are in the same folder.

https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/006

Impacts

Server

Data Source

Linux Process Monitoring via FortiSIEM Agent

Detection

Correlation

Remediation Guidance

No remediation guidance specified

Time Window

If the following pattern or patterns match an ingested event within the given time window in seconds, trigger an incident.

300 seconds

Trigger Conditions

If the following defined pattern/s occur within a 300 second time window.

Filter

SubPattern Definitions

SubPattern Name: Filter

This is the named definition of the event query, this is important if multiple subpatterns are defined to distinguish them.

SubPattern Query

This is the query logic that matches incoming events

eventType = "LINUX_PROCESS_EXEC" AND procName = "touch" AND swParam REGEXP ("-[amrt]+.*")

Group by Attributes

This defines how matching events are aggregated, only events with the same matching attribute values are grouped into one unique incident ID

hostName, user, procName, swParam

Aggregate Constraint

This is most typically a numerical constraint that defines when the rule should trigger an incident

COUNT(*) >= 1

Incident Attribute Mapping

This section defines which fields in matching raw events should be mapped to the incident attributes in the resulting incident.

The available raw event attributes to map are limited to the group by attributes and the aggregate event constraint fields for each subpattern

 hostName = Filter.hostName,
 user = Filter.user,
 procName = Filter.procName,
 swParam = Filter.swParam

FortiSIEM Rules