Sigma rule: Overwriting the File with Dev Zero or Null

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-cee552fc0259, updated 2019-10-23T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Overwriting the File with Dev Zero or Null
Status
stable
Level
low
Author
Jakob Weinzettl, oscd.community
Date
2019-10-23
File
rules/linux/auditd/execve/lnx_auditd_dd_delete_file.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects overwriting (effectively wiping/deleting) of a file.

Log source

product
linux
service
auditd

Detection

selection:
    type: 'EXECVE'
    a0|contains: 'dd'
    a1|contains:
        - 'if=/dev/null'
        - 'if=/dev/zero'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Appending null bytes to files.
  • Legitimate overwrite of files.

Tags

  • attack.impact
  • attack.t1485

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/execve/lnx_auditd_dd_delete_file.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Overwriting the File with Dev Zero or Null" by Jakob Weinzettl, oscd.community (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/linux/auditd/execve/lnx_auditd_dd_delete_file.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: Overwriting the File with Dev Zero or Null",
entity page, dataset version ref-cee552fc0259, updated 2019-10-23T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/37222991-11e9-4b6d-8bdf-60fbe48f753e (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 37222991-11e9-4b6d-8bdf-60fbe48f753e, 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.