Execution: Suspicious Cron Modification

This document describes a threat finding type in Security Command Center. Threat findings are generated by threat detectors when they detect a potential threat in your cloud resources. For a full list of available threat findings, see Threat findings index .

Overview

A cron configuration file was modified. Modifications to cron jobs are a common tactic used by attackers to establish persistent access to systems. Attackers can use unauthorized changes to cron jobs to execute malicious commands at specific intervals, enabling them to maintain access and control over the system. Such modifications might go unnoticed and allow attackers to carry out stealthy activities over an extended period.

This is a file monitoring detector and it has specific GKE version requirements .

This detector is disabled by default. For instructions on how to enable it, see Testing Container Threat Detection .

Detection service

Container Threat Detection

How to respond

To respond to this finding, do the following:

Review finding details

1. Open the Execution: Suspicious Cron Modification finding as directed in Reviewing findings . Review the details in the Summaryand JSONtabs.

2. Identify other findings that occurred at a similar time for this resource. Related findings might indicate that this activity was malicious, instead of a failure to follow best practices.

3. Review the settings of the affected resource.

4. Check the logs for the affected resource.

Research attack and response methods

Review the MITRE ATT&CK framework entry for this finding type: Execution .

What's next

• Learn how to work with threat findings in Security Command Center .
• Refer to the Threat findings index .
• Learn how to review a finding through the Google Cloud console.
• Learn about the services that generate threat findings .