T1685.006: Clear Linux or Mac System Logs

MITRE ATT&CK® Enterprise technique

Description

Adversaries may clear system logs to hide evidence of an intrusion. macOS and Linux both keep track of system or user-initiated actions via system logs. The majority of native system logging is stored under the /var/log/ directory. Subfolders in this directory categorize logs by their related functions, such as:(Citation: Linux Logs)

• /var/log/messages:: General and system-related messages
• /var/log/secure or /var/log/auth.log: Authentication logs
• /var/log/utmp or /var/log/wtmp: Login records
• /var/log/kern.log: Kernel logs
• /var/log/cron.log: Crond logs
• /var/log/maillog: Mail server logs
• /var/log/httpd/: Web server access and error logs

Detection

(no detection guidance published)

Data sources

• (none listed)

References

• ATT&CK page: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/006
• ATT&CK Enterprise matrix: https://attack.mitre.org/matrices/enterprise/