Sigma rule: Loading of Kernel Module via Insmod

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-22089e3e97f2, updated 2022-12-25T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Loading of Kernel Module via Insmod
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Pawel Mazur
Date
2021-11-02
Modified
2022-12-25
File
rules/linux/auditd/syscall/lnx_auditd_load_module_insmod.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects loading of kernel modules with insmod command.
Loadable Kernel Modules (LKMs) are pieces of code that can be loaded and unloaded into the kernel upon demand.
Adversaries may use LKMs to obtain persistence within the system or elevate the privileges.

Log source

product
linux
service
auditd

Detection

selection:
    type: 'SYSCALL'
    comm: insmod
    exe: /usr/bin/kmod
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Unknown

Tags

  • attack.persistence
  • attack.privilege-escalation
  • attack.t1547.006

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

References

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/linux/auditd/syscall/lnx_auditd_load_module_insmod.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Loading of Kernel Module via Insmod" by Pawel Mazur (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/linux/auditd/syscall/lnx_auditd_load_module_insmod.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Loading of Kernel Module via Insmod",
entity page, dataset version ref-22089e3e97f2, updated 2022-12-25T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/106d7cbd-80ff-4985-b682-a7043e5acb72 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 106d7cbd-80ff-4985-b682-a7043e5acb72, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.