---
title: Linux Restricted Shell Breakout via env Shell Evasion
description: Identifies Linux binary env abuse to break out from restricted environments by spawning an interactive system shell. The env utility is a shell command...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3167/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules/_deprecated/execution_env_binary
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Linux Restricted Shell Breakout via env Shell Evasion
<warning>
  This rule has been deprecated as of 2022/05/09.
</warning>

Identifies Linux binary env abuse to break out from restricted environments by spawning an interactive system shell. The
env utility is a shell command for Unix-like operating systems and is used to print a list of environment variables. The
activity of spawning a shell is not a standard use of this binary for a user or system administrator. It indicates a
potentially malicious actor attempting to improve the capabilities or stability of their access.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- logs-endpoint.events.*

**Rule Severity**: medium
**Risk Score**: 47
**Runs every**: 
**Searches indices from**: `now-9m`
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
- [[https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/env/](https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/env/)](https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/env/)

**Tags**:
- Elastic
- Host
- Linux
- Threat Detection
- Execution
- GTFOBins

**Version**: 100
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Rule Query

```eql
process where event.type == "start" and process.name : "env" and process.args_count == 2 and process.args : ("/bin/sh", "/bin/bash", "sh", "bash")
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Execution
- Id: TA0002
- Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
- Id: T1059
- Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Unix Shell
- Id: T1059.004
- Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/)