HTTP requests referencing sensitive system files

Classification:

attack

Tactic:

TA0001-initial-access

Technique:

T1190-exploit-public-facing-application

Goal

Detect HTTP requests referencing sensitive system or application files (for example passwd, shadow, or configuration files), especially when responses succeed.

Strategy

This rule monitors OCSF HTTP paths and query strings for known sensitive file indicators and correlates with successful HTTP status codes, grouped by @ocsf.src_endpoint.ip.

Triage and response

  • Verify whether files could be read or whether error responses leaked file paths.
  • Tighten access controls and rotate secrets if configuration exposure is possible.