Name:ESXi System Information Discovery id:b4d4217a-6673-4fb6-837d-07a522bdf9f7 version:1 date:2025-05-14 author:Raven Tait, Splunk status:production type:TTP Description:This detection identifies the use of ESXCLI system-level commands that retrieve configuration details. While used for legitimate administration, this behavior may also indicate adversary reconnaissance aimed at profiling the ESXi host's capabilities, build information, or system role in preparation for further compromise. Data_source:
-VMWare ESXi Syslog
search:`esxi_syslog` Message="*system*" AND Message="*esxcli*" AND Message IN ("*get*","*list*") AND Message="*user=*" NOT Message="*filesystem*" | rex field=_raw "user=(?<user>\w+)\]\s+Dispatch\s+(?<command>[^\s]+)" | rex field=_raw "Z (?<dest>[\w\.]+)\s" | stats min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime count by dest user command | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `esxi_system_information_discovery_filter`
how_to_implement:This is based on syslog data generated by VMware ESXi hosts. To implement this search, you must configure your ESXi systems to forward syslog output to your Splunk deployment. These logs must be ingested with the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-on for VMware ESXi Logs, which provides field extractions and CIM compatibility. known_false_positives:Administrators may use this command when troubleshooting. Tune as needed. References: drilldown_searches: name:'View the detection results for - "$dest$"' search:'%original_detection_search% | search dest = "$dest$"' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' name:'View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"' search:'| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") starthoursago=168 | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' tags: analytic_story: - 'ESXi Post Compromise' - 'Black Basta Ransomware' asset_type:Infrastructure mitre_attack_id: - 'T1082' product: - 'Splunk Enterprise' - 'Splunk Enterprise Security' - 'Splunk Cloud' security_domain:endpoint
