---
title: Potential Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploit Compilation
id: 8a4b2c1d-9e3f-4a5b-8c6d-7e8f9a0b1c2d
status: experimental
description: Detects compilation of potential kernel exploit code based on suspicious gcc/clang invocations with kernel-related flags and common exploit filenames
references:
  - https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/52585
author: Security Arsenal
date: 2025/04/06
tags:
  - attack.privilege_escalation
  - attack.t1068
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      - '/gcc'
      - '/clang'
    CommandLine|contains:
      - 'exploit'
      - 'priv'
      - 'escalat'
      - 'root'
      - 'lpe'
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate development of security tools
  - System administrator testing
level: high
---
title: Sudden UID Change to Root from Non-Root Process
id: 3d2e1f0a-9b8c-7d6e-5f4a-3b2c1d0e9f8a
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious processes transitioning to root UID (0) that were not initially running as root or through expected privilege escalation mechanisms
references:
  - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1068/
author: Security Arsenal
date: 2025/04/06
tags:
  - attack.privilege_escalation
  - attack.t1068
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection:
    uid: 0
  filter_legit_sudo:
    ParentImage|contains:
      - '/sudo'
      - '/su'
  filter_legit_ssh:
    ParentImage|contains: '/sshd'
  filter_legit_systemd:
    ParentImage|contains: '/systemd'
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administrative tools using privilege escalation
  - Container runtimes
  - System services
level: high
---
title: Suspicious Kernel Module Loading Activity
id: 7f8e9d0c-1a2b-3c4d-5e6f-7a8b9c0d1e2f
status: experimental
description: Detects attempts to load kernel modules from unusual locations or using non-standard methods which may indicate LPE exploitation
references:
  - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547.006/
author: Security Arsenal
date: 2025/04/06
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1547.006
  - attack.privilege_escalation
  - attack.t1068
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: linux
detection:
  selection_insmod:
    Image|endswith:
      - '/insmod'
      - '/modprobe'
      - '/kmod'
  selection_suspicious_paths:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - '/tmp/'
      - '/var/tmp/'
      - '/dev/shm/'
      - '/home/'
  condition: selection_insmod and selection_suspicious_paths
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate driver installation from temporary directories
  - System administrator testing
level: high

// Hunt for suspicious process execution patterns indicating potential LPE exploitation
// Works with Syslog or CommonSecurityLog data ingested from Linux endpoints
let suspiciousProcesses = dynamic(["exploit", "priv", "escalat", "root", "lpe", "privesc"]);
let compilerProcesses = dynamic(["gcc", "clang", "cc"]);
let tempPaths = dynamic(["/tmp/", "/var/tmp/", "/dev/shm/"]);

// Look for exploit compilation in temp directories
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4688 or EventSourceName == "auditd"
| extend ProcessName = iff(EventID == 4688, NewProcessName, Process)
| extend CommandLine = iff(EventID == 4688, CommandLine, ProcessCommand)
| where ProcessName has_any (compilerProcesses) 
and CommandLine has_any (suspiciousProcesses)
and CommandLine has_any (tempPaths)
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, Account, ProcessName, CommandLine, SubjectUserName
| order by TimeGenerated desc

// Union with additional hunt for UID changes
union (
    Syslog
    | where Facility == "auth" or Facility == "authpriv"
    | where SyslogMessage has "uid" and (SyslogMessage has "0" or SyslogMessage has "root")
    | where SyslogMessage !has "sudo" and SyslogMessage !has "su "
    | project TimeGenerated, Computer, SyslogMessage, ProcessName, Severity
    | order by TimeGenerated desc
)

-- Hunt for indicators of Linux kernel privilege escalation attempts
-- Identify compiled exploits, suspicious process execution, and UID changes

SELECT
    Pid,
    Name,
    Username,
    Exe,
    CommandLine,
    Cwd,
    CreateTime
FROM pslist()
WHERE 
    -- Look for processes running from temp directories (common exploit behavior)
    Exe =~ '/tmp/' OR Exe =~ '/var/tmp/' OR Exe =~ '/dev/shm/'
    OR
    -- Check for common exploit names or keywords in command line
    CommandLine =~ 'exploit' OR 
    CommandLine =~ 'priv' OR
    CommandLine =~ 'escalat' OR
    CommandLine =~ 'root' OR
    CommandLine =~ 'lpe' OR
    CommandLine =~ 'privesc'
    OR
    -- Identify processes with UID 0 not started by expected parents
    (Uid = 0 AND 
     ParentName !~ 'sudo' AND 
     ParentName !~ 'sshd' AND 
     ParentName !~ 'systemd' AND
     ParentName !~ 'init')

-- Additionally check for recently modified executables in temp directories
SELECT
    FullPath,
    Size,
    Mode.String AS Mode,
    Mtime,
    Atime,
    Ctime,
    Btime
FROM glob(globs='/**/tmp/*')
WHERE Mode =~ 'x'  -- Executable files
  AND Mtime > now() - 7d  -- Modified in last 7 days

#!/bin/bash
# Linux Kernel Vulnerability Remediation Script
# Checks for vulnerable kernel versions and applies mitigations

set -e

# Color output for readability
RED='\033[0;31m'
GREEN='\033[0;32m'
YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
NC='\033[0m' # No Color

echo -e "${GREEN}[*] Starting Linux Kernel Vulnerability Assessment${NC}"
echo "================================================"

# Get current kernel version
CURRENT_KERNEL=$(uname -r)
echo -e "${YELLOW}[+] Current kernel version: $CURRENT_KERNEL${NC}"

# Get distribution info
if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
    . /etc/os-release
    OS=$ID
    OS_VERSION=$VERSION_ID
echo -e "${YELLOW}[+] Detected OS: $OS $OS_VERSION${NC}"
else
    echo -e "${RED}[-] Cannot detect OS distribution${NC}"
    exit 1
fi

# Check for vulnerable kernel versions (adjust based on specific advisory)
# This is a generic template - update with exact vulnerable versions from vendor advisory
VULNERABLE_KERNELS=""

# Function to check if kernel is vulnerable
check_vulnerability() {
    local kernel_version=$1
    # Add specific version checks here based on official advisory
    # Example:
    # if dpkg --compare-versions "$kernel_version" "lt" "5.4.0-110"; then
    #     return 0
    # fi
    return 1
}

# Check for available kernel updates
echo -e "\n${YELLOW}[+] Checking for available kernel updates...${NC}"

if command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
    echo "Debian/Ubuntu-based system detected"
    apt-get update
    UPGRADES=$(apt-get upgrade -s linux-image-generic 2>&1 | grep -c "linux-image" || true)
    if [ "$UPGRADES" -gt 0 ]; then
        echo -e "${RED}[-] Kernel updates are available${NC}"
        echo "Run: apt-get upgrade linux-image-generic"
    else
        echo -e "${GREEN}[+] No kernel updates available${NC}"
    fi
elif command -v yum &> /dev/null; then
    echo "RHEL/CentOS-based system detected"
    yum check-update kernel
    if [ $? -eq 100 ]; then
        echo -e "${RED}[-] Kernel updates are available${NC}"
        echo "Run: yum update kernel"
    else
        echo -e "${GREEN}[+] No kernel updates available${NC}"
    fi
fi

# Check for recent suspicious process executions
echo -e "\n${YELLOW}[+] Checking for suspicious recent activity...${NC}"

if [ -f /var/log/auth.log ] || [ -f /var/log/secure ]; then
    LOG_FILE="/var/log/auth.log"
    [ ! -f "$LOG_FILE" ] && LOG_FILE="/var/log/secure"
    
    echo "Checking $LOG_FILE for suspicious activity..."
    grep -i "exploit\|privilege\|escalation\|lpe" "$LOG_FILE" 2>/dev/null | tail -20 || echo "No obvious suspicious entries found"
fi

# Check for executable files in temp directories
echo -e "\n${YELLOW}[+] Scanning for executables in temp directories...${NC}"

find /tmp /var/tmp /dev/shm -type f -executable -mtime -7 2>/dev/null | while read file; do
    echo -e "${RED}[-] Found recent executable: $file${NC}"
done || echo "No recent executables found in temp directories"

# Recommend immediate actions
echo -e "\n${GREEN}[*] REMEDIATION RECOMMENDATIONS:${NC}"
echo "1. Apply kernel updates immediately:"
echo "   - Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade linux-image-generic"
echo "   - RHEL/CentOS: sudo yum update kernel"
echo "   - Reboot system after update: sudo reboot"
echo ""
echo "2. If reboot is not immediately possible, consider:"
echo "   - Implementing application controls to prevent exploit execution"
echo "   - Restricting local user access to critical systems"
echo "   - Monitoring for suspicious process activity"
echo ""
echo "3. Review system logs for signs of exploitation"
echo "   - Check auth logs for unexpected privilege escalations"
echo "   - Review process execution history"
echo ""
echo "4. Verify your distribution's security advisory for:"
echo "   - Exact vulnerable kernel versions"
 echo "   - Specific CVE numbers related to Exploit-DB 52585"
echo "   - Patch availability and compatibility information"

echo -e "\n${GREEN}[*] Assessment complete${NC}"