GitHub Repo

Detection: Cisco IOS XE Request Platform Package Describe Shell Pattern

Updated Date: 2026-05-20 ID: a113a8be-7386-46e0-a079-d9fd46f9631f Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

This analytic detects Cisco IOS-XE "request platform software package describe" commands containing suspicious shell-style filename patterns. Indicative of Slat Typhoon tradecraft.

 1`cisco_ios`
 2facility IN ("AAA", "HA_EM")
 3mnemonic IN ("AAA_ACCOUNTING_MESSAGE", "LOG")
 4message_text="*request platform software package describe*"
 5message_text IN ("*--filename=/(bash)n*", "*--filename=$(bash)n*")
 6
 7
 8| eval dest=coalesce(host, dvc, dest, "unknown")
 9
10| stats count min(_time) as firstTime
11              max(_time) as lastTime
12              values(message_text) as message
13  by dest
14
15| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
16
17| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
18
19| `cisco_ios_xe_request_platform_package_describe_shell_pattern_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Cisco IOS Logs Other 'cisco:ios' 'cisco:ios'

Macros Used

Name Value
cisco_ios sourcetype=cisco:ios
cisco_ios_xe_request_platform_package_describe_shell_pattern_filter search *
cisco_ios_xe_request_platform_package_describe_shell_pattern_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Installation
Delivery
DE.CM
CIS 13

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Finding (Notable) Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Intermediate Finding (Risk Event) No
TTP detections generate a Finding (Notable) and may generate Intermediate Findings (Risk Events) for associated entities.

Implementation

Use the Cisco Catalyst Add-on for Splunk (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/7538) to Ingest Cisco IOS-XE syslog with sourcetype "cisco:ios". Command visibility requires AAA command accounting or EEM catchall command logging.

Known False Positives

No false positives have been identified at this time.

Associated Analytic Story

Finding

Title Entity Field Entity Type Risk Score
Suspicious request platform package describe command was issued on $dest$. dest system 50

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset ctb:catalyst:syslog cisco:ios
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset ctb:catalyst:syslog cisco:ios

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 1