---
title: Linux Restricted Shell Breakout via the vi command
description: Identifies Linux binary find abuse to break out from restricted environments by spawning an interactive system shell. The vi/vim editor is the standard...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3167/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules/_deprecated/execution_vi_binary
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

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

Identifies Linux binary find abuse to break out from restricted environments by spawning an interactive system shell.
The vi/vim editor is the standard text editor in Linux distributions, and the activity of spawning a shell is not a
standard use of this binary by a user or system administrator. This could potentially indicate a 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/vi/](https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/vi/)](https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/vi/)

**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.parent.name in ("vi", "vim") and process.parent.args == "-c" and process.parent.args in (":!/bin/bash", ":!/bin/sh", ":!bash", ":!sh") and process.name in ("bash", "sh")
```

**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/)