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SU Command Failure Alert Rule

Microsoft.AIX.7.LogFile.Syslog.SU.Command.Root.Failure.Alert (Rule)

Alert rule for failed "SU to root command" messages.

Knowledge Base article:

Summary

A failed 'su' command has been detected in the system log files.

Configuration

This rule is disabled by default. To enable this rule for monitoring, use overrides to configure the log file path and enable the rule. The log file path is set with the overridable property named LogFile, and the value must be set to the full path to the log file that will receive these events, as defined in the syslog configuration. Overrides can be used to change the parameter values for all instances or for specific instances or groups.

Causes

An unsuccessful attempt was made to elevate privileges with 'su.' This may have been caused by a mistyped password or an attempt to use an invalid username. However, a persistent failure could be an indication of suspicious activity.

Resolutions

The description of the alert and/or the output data item contains information on the event encountered. If 'su' usage appears suspicious, check the associated event details and any other events that happened around the time of this event.

Element properties:

TargetMicrosoft.AIX.7.Computer
CategoryEventCollection
EnabledTrue
Alert GenerateTrue
Alert SeverityError
Alert PriorityNormal
RemotableTrue
Alert Message
Failed SU to Root detected
{0}

Member Modules:

ID Module Type TypeId RunAs 
EventDS DataSource Microsoft.Unix.SCXLog.Datasource Default
GenerateAlert WriteAction System.Health.GenerateAlert Default

Source Code:

<Rule ID="Microsoft.AIX.7.LogFile.Syslog.SU.Command.Root.Failure.Alert" Target="Microsoft.AIX.7.Computer" Enabled="true" Remotable="true">

  <Category>EventCollection</Category>

  <DataSources>

    <!-- [TYPE] AIX7 SU False -->

    <!-- [INPUT] Jun  2 14:21:14 scxomd-aix7-01 auth|security:crit su: BAD SU from jeffcof to root at /dev/pts/0 -->

    <DataSource ID="EventDS" TypeID="Unix!Microsoft.Unix.SCXLog.Datasource">

      <Host>$Target/Property[Type="Unix!Microsoft.Unix.Computer"]/PrincipalName$</Host>

      <LogFile>/var/adm/ras/syslog.caa</LogFile>

      <RegExpFilter>[[:space:]]su: BAD SU from [^[:space:]]+ to root at</RegExpFilter>

      <IndividualAlerts>false</IndividualAlerts>

    </DataSource>

  </DataSources>

  <WriteActions>

    <WriteAction ID="GenerateAlert" TypeID="SystemHealth!System.Health.GenerateAlert">

      <Priority>1</Priority>

      <Severity>2</Severity>

      <AlertMessageId>$MPElement[Name="Microsoft.AIX.7.LogFile.Syslog.SU.Command.Root.Failure.AlertMessage"]$</AlertMessageId>

      <AlertParameters>

        <AlertParameter1>$Data/EventDescription$</AlertParameter1>

      </AlertParameters>

      <Suppression>

        <SuppressionValue/>

      </Suppression>

    </WriteAction>

  </WriteActions>

</Rule>