Detect Linux Kernel cgroup v1 release_agent Privilege Escalation (CVE-2022-0492) in IBM QRadar
CVE-2022-0492 is a Linux kernel vulnerability (CWE-287/CWE-862) in the cgroup v1 release_agent mechanism. A local unprivileged user can exploit improper capability checks to write to /sys/fs/cgroup/*/release_agent and execute arbitrary commands as root, enabling container escape and full host compromise. This vulnerability is listed on CISA KEV, indicating active exploitation in the wild.
MITRE ATT&CK
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
sourceip,
username,
"processname",
"cmdline",
"filepath",
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS log_source
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) IN ('Linux', 'Syslog', 'SysmonLinux')
AND (
(LOWER("filepath") LIKE '/sys/fs/cgroup/%release_agent%')
OR (LOWER("cmdline") LIKE '%release_agent%')
OR (LOWER("cmdline") LIKE '%notify_on_release%')
OR (
LOWER("processname") IN ('unshare', 'nsenter')
AND LOWER("cmdline") LIKE '%cgroup%'
)
)
AND QIDNAME(qid) NOT IN ('Container Runtime Management', 'Kubernetes Lifecycle')
LAST 24 HOURS
ORDER BY starttime DESCQRadar AQL query searching for cgroup release_agent file path access and command-line patterns associated with CVE-2022-0492 exploitation across Linux and syslog sources.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Container orchestration management operations from approved automation accounts
- Approved security tooling that inspects cgroup configurations
- Kernel developers or admins with documented need to access cgroup release_agent
- Routine container lifecycle events from known container runtime processes
Other platforms for CVE-2022-0492
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Write payload to cgroup release_agent (non-privileged namespace simulation)
Expected signal: Process event for unshare with -UrmC flags; file write event to path matching /sys/fs/cgroup/*/release_agent or the tmp mount path; child bash process inheriting modified cgroup namespace
- Test 2Enumerate cgroup v1 hierarchy for exploitable release_agent
Expected signal: Process event for sh/bash with find commands targeting /sys/fs/cgroup paths; multiple file read events against notify_on_release and release_agent pseudo-files
- Test 3Container escape simulation via cgroup release_agent (lab environment)
Expected signal: Docker daemon log showing privileged container creation; host-level process events for cgroup mount, release_agent write; if successful: unexpected process spawned outside container namespace with UID 0; file creation event for escape_proof.txt on host
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