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This document describes a threat finding type in Security Command Center. Threat findings are generated bythreat detectorswhen they detect
a potential threat in your cloud resources. For a full list of available threat findings, seeThreat findings index.
Overview
One of the binaries or configuration files in thepam.ddirectory
was modified. Pluggable authentication modules (PAM) are widely used for
authentication in Linux. Attackers might modify the binaries or configuration
files to establish persistent access.
Open theCollection: Pam.d Modificationfinding as directed inReviewing findings.
Review the details in theSummaryandJSONtabs.
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.
Review the settings of the affected resource.
Check the logs for the affected resource.
Research attack and response methods
Review the MITRE ATT&CK framework entry for this finding type:Collection.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[],[],null,["| Premium and Enterprise [service tiers](/security-command-center/docs/service-tiers)\n\nThis document describes a threat finding type in Security Command Center. Threat findings are generated by\n[threat detectors](/security-command-center/docs/concepts-security-sources#threats) when they detect\na potential threat in your cloud resources. For a full list of available threat findings, see [Threat findings index](/security-command-center/docs/threat-findings-index).\n\nOverview\n\nOne of the binaries or configuration files in the `pam.d` directory\nwas modified. Pluggable authentication modules (PAM) are widely used for\nauthentication in Linux. Attackers might modify the binaries or configuration\nfiles to establish persistent access.\n\nThis is a file monitoring detector and it\nhas [specific GKE version requirements](/security-command-center/docs/how-to-use-container-threat-detection#gke-version).\n\nThis detector is disabled by default. For instructions on how to enable it,\nsee [Testing\nContainer Threat Detection](/security-command-center/docs/how-to-test-container-threat-detection).\n\nDetection service\n\n[Container Threat Detection](/security-command-center/docs/concepts-container-threat-detection-overview)\n\nHow to respond\n\nTo respond to this finding, do the following:\n\nReview finding details\n\n1. Open the `Collection: Pam.d Modification` finding as directed in\n [Reviewing findings](/security-command-center/docs/how-to-investigate-threats#reviewing_findings).\n Review the details in the **Summary** and **JSON** tabs.\n\n2. Identify other findings that occurred at a similar time for this resource.\n Related findings might indicate that this activity was malicious, instead of\n a failure to follow best practices.\n\n3. Review the settings of the affected resource.\n\n4. Check the logs for the affected resource.\n\nResearch attack and response methods\n\nReview the MITRE ATT\\&CK framework entry for this finding type:\n[Collection](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0009/).\n\nWhat's next\n\n- Learn [how to work with threat\n findings in Security Command Center](/security-command-center/docs/how-to-investigate-threats).\n- Refer to the [Threat findings index](/security-command-center/docs/threat-findings-index).\n- Learn how to [review a\n finding](/security-command-center/docs/how-to-investigate-threats#reviewing_findings) through the Google Cloud console.\n- Learn about the [services that\n generate threat findings](/security-command-center/docs/concepts-security-sources#threats)."]]