Detect Python in Google Chronicle
Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution. Python is a cross-platform scripting language that can be executed interactively from the command-line (via python.exe/python3), via scripts (.py), or compiled into binary executables. Python's built-in libraries for file operations, networking (socket, urllib, requests), and system interaction make it a powerful tool for adversaries. Threat actors including APT31, APT37, MuddyWater, and Contagious Interview have used Python-based implants, reverse shells, and backdoors across Windows, Linux, macOS, and ESXi environments.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Execution
- Technique
- T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter
- Sub-technique
- T1059.006 Python
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/006/
YARA-L Detection Query
rule t1059_006_python_suspicious_execution {
meta:
author = "Argus Detection Engineering"
description = "Detects suspicious Python interpreter execution patterns associated with MITRE ATT&CK T1059.006 including reverse shells, download-and-execute, subprocess abuse, and dynamic code execution."
mitre_attack_tactic = "Execution"
mitre_attack_technique = "T1059.006"
severity = "HIGH"
confidence = "MEDIUM"
version = "1.0"
created = "2026-04-17"
events:
$e.metadata.event_type = "PROCESS_LAUNCH"
$e.principal.process.file.full_path = /(?i)(python|python3|python3\.exe|python\.exe|pythonw\.exe)$/
(
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(socket\.socket|pty\.spawn|\/bin\/sh|\/bin\/bash|reverse_shell|reverse_tcp)/ or
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(urllib|requests\.get|requests\.post|http\.client)/ or
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(subprocess\.(call|popen|run)|os\.system|os\.popen)/ or
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(exec\(|eval\(|compile\(|__import__)/ or
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(base64\.b64decode|codecs\.decode)/ or
$e.target.process.command_line = /(?i)(pyinstaller|py2exe|nuitka)/
)
condition:
$e
}Chronicle YARA-L 2.0 rule detecting suspicious Python interpreter invocations for T1059.006. Matches PROCESS_LAUNCH events where the executing binary is a Python interpreter and the command line contains patterns associated with reverse shells (socket.socket, pty.spawn), network download-and-execute (urllib, requests), subprocess abuse (os.system, subprocess.Popen), dynamic code execution (exec, eval, compile, __import__), obfuscation (base64, codecs), or binary packing (pyinstaller, py2exe, nuitka). Uses UDM principal/target process fields.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate DevOps automation using Ansible, SaltStack, or Fabric that execute subprocess calls or network requests as part of infrastructure management
- Data engineering pipelines using Python to download and process datasets using urllib or requests (ETL jobs, ML training workflows)
- Application packaging workflows in CI/CD environments using PyInstaller or Nuitka to compile Python apps into distributable binaries
Other platforms for T1059.006
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 1Python Reverse Shell One-Liner
Expected signal: Auditd: EXECVE record for python3 with -c flag and socket.socket in arguments. Network connection attempt to 127.0.0.1:4444. MDE DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents on managed endpoints.
- Test 2Python Download and Execute
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for python.exe with urllib in CommandLine. Sysmon Event ID 3: Network Connection to 127.0.0.1:8080 (will fail without listener). The exec() call triggers even though download fails.
- Test 3Python Subprocess Command Execution
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for python.exe with subprocess.Popen in CommandLine. Child process event for cmd.exe spawned by python.exe.
References (5)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/006/
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1059.006/T1059.006.md
- https://www.revshells.com/
- https://github.com/fortra/impacket
- https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/apt-31-leverages-covid-19-vaccine-theme-and-abuses-legitimate-online
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