---
title: Reverse Shell Created via Named Pipe
description: Identifies a reverse shell via the abuse of named pipes on Linux with the help of OpenSSL or Netcat. First in, first out (FIFO) files are special files...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules/_deprecated/execution_reverse_shell_via_named_pipe
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Reverse Shell Created via Named Pipe
<warning>
  This rule has been deprecated as of 2023/07/04.
</warning>

Identifies a reverse shell via the abuse of named pipes on Linux with the help of OpenSSL or Netcat. First in, first out
(FIFO) files are special files for reading and writing to by Linux processes. For this to work, a named pipe is created
and passed to a Linux shell where the use of a network connection tool such as Netcat or OpenSSL has been established.
The stdout and stderr are captured in the named pipe from the network connection and passed back to the shell for
execution.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- auditbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.*
- endgame-*

**Rule Severity**: medium
**Risk Score**: 47
**Runs every**: 
**Searches indices from**: `now-9m`
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
- [[https://int0x33.medium.com/day-43-reverse-shell-with-openssl-1ee2574aa998](https://int0x33.medium.com/day-43-reverse-shell-with-openssl-1ee2574aa998)](https://int0x33.medium.com/day-43-reverse-shell-with-openssl-1ee2574aa998)
- [[https://blog.gregscharf.com/2021/03/22/tar-in-cronjob-to-privilege-escalation/](https://blog.gregscharf.com/2021/03/22/tar-in-cronjob-to-privilege-escalation/)](https://blog.gregscharf.com/2021/03/22/tar-in-cronjob-to-privilege-escalation/)
- [[https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings/blob/master/Methodology%20and%20Resources/Reverse%20Shell%20Cheatsheet.md#openssl](https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings/blob/master/Methodology%20and%20Resources/Reverse%20Shell%20Cheatsheet.md#openssl)](https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings/blob/master/Methodology%20and%20Resources/Reverse%20Shell%20Cheatsheet.md#openssl)

**Tags**:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Linux
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Execution
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame

**Version**: 6
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Rule Query

```eql
sequence by host.id with maxspan = 5s
    [process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and process.executable : ("/usr/bin/mkfifo","/usr/bin/mknod") and process.args:("/tmp/*","$*")]
    [process where host.os.type == "linux" and process.executable : ("/bin/sh","/bin/bash") and process.args:("-i") or
        (process.executable: ("/usr/bin/openssl") and process.args: ("-connect"))]
    [process where host.os.type == "linux" and (process.name:("nc","ncat","netcat","netcat.openbsd","netcat.traditional") or
                    (process.name: "openssl" and process.executable: "/usr/bin/openssl"))]
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Execution
  - Id: TA0002
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
  - Id: T1059
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Unix Shell
  - Id: T1059.004
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/)