---
title: Attempted Private Key Access
description: Attackers may try to access private keys, e.g. ssh, in order to gain further authenticated access to the environment. Rule type: eql Rule indices: endgame-*,...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules_building_block/credential_access_win_private_key_access
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Attempted Private Key Access
Attackers may try to access private keys, e.g. ssh, in order to gain further authenticated access to the environment.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- endgame-*
- logs-endpoint.events.process-*
- logs-system.security*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
- winlogbeat-*

**Rule Severity**: low
**Risk Score**: 21
**Runs every**: 60m
**Searches indices from**: `now-119m`
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
**Tags**:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Credential Access
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Rule Type: BBR
- Data Source: Sysmon
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame
- Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs
- Rule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)
- Platform: Windows

**Version**: 112
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Rule Query

```eql
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
  process.command_line : ("*.pem *", "*.pem", "*.id_rsa*") and
  not process.args : (
        "--rootcert",
        "--cert",
        "--crlfile"
  ) and
  not process.command_line : (
        "*--cacert*",
        "*--ssl-cert*",
        "*--tls-cert*",
        "*--tls_server_certs*"
  ) and
  not process.executable : (
    "?:\\ProgramData\\Logishrd\\LogiOptions\\Software\\*\\LogiLuUpdater.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Elastic\\Agent\\data\\*\\osqueryd.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Git\\mingw64\\bin\\git.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Guardicore\\gc-controller.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Guardicore\\gc-deception-agent.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Guardicore\\gc-detection-agent.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Guardicore\\gc-enforcement-agent.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Guardicore\\gc-guest-agent.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Logi\\LogiBolt\\LogiBoltUpdater.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Schneider Electric EcoStruxure\\Building Operation 5.0\\Device Administrator\\Python\\python.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\Splunk\\bin\\openssl.exe",
    "?:\\Program Files\\SplunkUniversalForwarder\\bin\\openssl.exe",
    "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Logi\\LogiBolt\\LogiBoltUpdater.exe",
    "?:\\Windows\\system32\\icacls.exe",
    "?:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\*"
  )
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Credential Access
  - Id: TA0006
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Unsecured Credentials
  - Id: T1552
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Private Keys
  - Id: T1552.004
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/004/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/004/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/004/)

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Collection
  - Id: TA0009
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0009/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0009/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0009/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Data from Local System
  - Id: T1005
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1005/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1005/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1005/)