Linux Logs Clearing Attempts — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Ömer Günal, oscd.community. Source status: stable; severity: medium. Source dates: 2020-10-07 / 2026-03-18.

{
  "product": "linux",
  "category": "process_creation"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 5fedfdba71903106f04430659418e9dfabb58a4781e39217328e9bd6a6d0a8a2

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Linux Logs Clearing Attempts
id: 80915f59-9b56-4616-9de0-fd0dea6c12fe
status: stable
description: |
    Detects logs clearing attempts on Linux systems via utilities such as 'rm', 'rmdir', 'shred', and 'unlink' targeting log files and directories.
    Adversaries often try to clear logs to cover their tracks after performing malicious activities.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1070.002/T1070.002.md
author: Ömer Günal, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2026-03-18
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685.006
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '/rm'    # covers /rmdir as well
            - '/rmdir'
            - '/shred'
            - '/unlink'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '/var/log'
            - '/var/spool/mail'
    filter_main_legit_systat:
        Image|endswith: '/rm'
        CommandLine|startswith: 'rm -f /var/log/sysstat/'
    filter_main_dmseg:
        Image|endswith: '/rm'
        CommandLine|startswith: 'rm -f -- /var/log//dmesg' # // before dmesg is not typo
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administration activities
level: medium

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate administration activities

Source references

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1070.002/T1070.002.md