ESXi System Information Discovery
Last updated 2 days ago on 2026-07-17
About
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.
- Platform
Splunk
- Tags
- Data Source: SplunkDomain: ApplicationRule Type: QueryOS: Any
- Severity
- medium
- Risk Score
- 47
- False Positives
- Administrators may use this command when troubleshooting. Tune as needed.
- Source
- View on GitHub(external, opens in a new tab or window)
Definition
- Rule Language
- SPL
- Rule Type
- query
text code block:`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`
View this rule on Splunk
This rule was sourced from the official Splunk public repository. View the original rule on GitHub(external, opens in a new tab or window).