PUA - TruffleHog Execution

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects execution of TruffleHog, a tool used to search for secrets in different platforms like Git, Jira, Slack, SharePoint, etc. that could be used maliciously. While it is a legitimate tool, intende

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: PUA - TruffleHog Execution
id: 44030449-b0df-4c94-aae1-502359ab28ee
related:
    - id: d7a650c4-226c-451e-948f-cc490db506aa
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects execution of TruffleHog, a tool used to search for secrets in different platforms like Git, Jira, Slack, SharePoint, etc. that could be used maliciously.
    While it is a legitimate tool, intended for use in CI pipelines and security assessments,
    It was observed in the Shai-Hulud malware campaign targeting npm packages to steal sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog
    - https://www.getsafety.com/blog-posts/shai-hulud-npm-attack
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-09-24
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1083
    - attack.t1552.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        Image|endswith: '\trufflehog.exe'
    selection_cli_platform:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' docker --image '
            - ' Git '
            - ' GitHub '
            - ' Jira '
            - ' Slack '
            - ' Confluence '
            - ' SharePoint '
            - ' s3 '
            - ' gcs '
    selection_cli_verified:
        CommandLine|contains: ' --results=verified'
    condition: selection_img or all of selection_cli_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of TruffleHog by security teams or developers.
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_pua_trufflehog/info.yml

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where TargetProcessName endswith "\\trufflehog.exe" or ((TargetProcessCommandLine contains " docker --image " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " Git " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " GitHub " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " Jira " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " Slack " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " Confluence " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " SharePoint " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " s3 " or TargetProcessCommandLine contains " gcs ") and TargetProcessCommandLine contains " --results=verified")

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Legitimate use of TruffleHog by security teams or developers.

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Discovery
• Tactic: Credential Access
• Technique: T1083 — T1083
• Technique: T1552.001 — T1552.001

References

• https://github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog
• https://www.getsafety.com/blog-posts/shai-hulud-npm-attack
• SigmaHQ Rule