What it does. Detect kernel-level rootkits in Linux memory dumps using Volatility3 Part of mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills (817 security skills) (mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills).

Install

• npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill analyzing-linux-kernel-rootkits, or copy the skill folder into ~/.claude/skills/analyzing-linux-kernel-rootkits/.
• Raw file: curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills/HEAD/skills/analyzing-linux-kernel-rootkits/SKILL.md

SKILL.md (verbatim)

name: analyzing-linux-kernel-rootkits
description: Detect kernel-level rootkits in Linux memory dumps using Volatility3
  linux plugins (check_syscall, lsmod, hidden_modules), rkhunter system scanning,
  and /proc vs /sys discrepancy analysis to identify hooked syscalls, hidden kernel
  modules, and tampered system structures.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: digital-forensics
tags:
- rootkit
- linux
- kernel
- volatility3
- memory-forensics
- malware-analysis
- rkhunter
- forensics
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- RS.AN-03
- DE.AE-02
- RS.MA-01
mitre_attack:
- T1014
- T1547.006
- T1564.001

Analyzing Linux Kernel Rootkits

Overview

Linux kernel rootkits operate at ring 0, modifying kernel data structures to hide processes, files, network connections, and kernel modules from userspace tools. Detection requires either memory forensics (analyzing physical memory dumps with Volatility3) or cross-view analysis (comparing /proc, /sys, and kernel data structures for inconsistencies). This skill covers using Volatility3 Linux plugins to detect syscall table hooks, hidden kernel modules, and modified function pointers, supplemented by live system scanning with rkhunter and chkrootkit.

When to Use

• When investigating security incidents that require analyzing linux kernel rootkits
• When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
• When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
• When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

Prerequisites

• Volatility3 installed (pip install volatility3)
• Linux memory dump (acquired via LiME, AVML, or /proc/kcore)
• Volatility3 Linux symbol table (ISF) matching the target kernel version
• rkhunter and chkrootkit for live system scanning
• Reference known-good kernel image for comparison

Steps

Step 1: Acquire Memory Dump

Capture Linux physical memory using LiME kernel module or AVML for cloud instances.

Step 2: Analyze with Volatility3

Run linux.check_syscall, linux.lsmod, linux.hidden_modules, and linux.check_idt plugins to detect rootkit artifacts.

Step 3: Cross-View Analysis

Compare module lists from /proc/modules, lsmod, and /sys/module to identify modules hidden from one view but present in another.

Step 4: Live System Scanning

Run rkhunter and chkrootkit to detect known rootkit signatures, suspicious files, and modified system binaries.

Expected Output

JSON report containing detected syscall hooks, hidden kernel modules, modified IDT entries, suspicious /proc discrepancies, and rkhunter findings.

Example Output

$ sudo python3 rootkit_analyzer.py --memory /evidence/linux-mem.lime --profile Ubuntu2204

Linux Kernel Rootkit Analysis Report
=====================================
Memory Image: /evidence/linux-mem.lime
Kernel Version: 5.15.0-91-generic (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS)
Analysis Time: 2024-01-18 09:15:32 UTC

[+] Scanning syscall table for hooks...
    Syscall Table Base: 0xffffffff82200300
    Total syscalls checked: 449

    HOOKED SYSCALLS DETECTED:
    ┌─────────┬──────────────────┬──────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐
    │ NR      │ Syscall          │ Expected Address     │ Current Address      │
    ├─────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤
    │ 0       │ sys_read         │ 0xffffffff8139a0e0   │ 0xffffffffc0a12000   │
    │ 2       │ sys_open         │ 0xffffffff8139b340   │ 0xffffffffc0a12180   │
    │ 78      │ sys_getdents64   │ 0xffffffff813f5210   │ 0xffffffffc0a12300   │
    │ 62      │ sys_kill         │ 0xffffffff8110c4a0   │ 0xffffffffc0a12480   │
    └─────────┴──────────────────┴──────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘
    WARNING: 4 syscall hooks detected - rootkit behavior confirmed

[+] Checking for hidden kernel modules...
    Loaded modules (lsmod):         147
    Modules in kobject list:        149
    HIDDEN MODULES:
      - "netfilter_helper" at 0xffffffffc0a10000 (size: 12288)
      - "kworker_sched"    at 0xffffffffc0a14000 (size: 8192)

[+] Scanning /proc for discrepancies...
    Processes in task_struct list: 234
    Processes visible in /proc:   231
    HIDDEN PROCESSES:
      - PID 31337  cmd: "[kworker/0:3]"   (disguised as kernel thread)
      - PID 31442  cmd: "rsyslogd"         (fake, real rsyslogd is PID 892)
      - PID 31500  cmd: ""                 (unnamed process)

[+] Checking IDT entries...
    IDT entries scanned: 256
    Modified entries: 0 (clean)

[+] Running rkhunter scan...
    Checking for known rootkits:        68 variants checked
    Diamorphine rootkit:                WARNING - signatures match
    System binary checks:
      /usr/bin/ps:     MODIFIED (SHA-256 mismatch)
      /usr/bin/netstat: MODIFIED (SHA-256 mismatch)
      /usr/bin/ls:     MODIFIED (SHA-256 mismatch)
      /usr/sbin/ss:    OK

[+] Network analysis...
    Hidden connections (not in /proc/net/tcp):
      ESTABLISHED  0.0.0.0:0 -> 198.51.100.47:4443 (PID 31337)
      ESTABLISHED  0.0.0.0:0 -> 198.51.100.47:8080 (PID 31442)

Summary:
  Rootkit Type:         Loadable Kernel Module (LKM)
  Probable Family:      Diamorphine variant
  Syscall Hooks:        4 (read, open, getdents64, kill)
  Hidden Modules:       2
  Hidden Processes:     3
  Hidden Connections:   2 (C2: 198.51.100.47)
  Modified Binaries:    3 (/usr/bin/ps, netstat, ls)
  Risk Level:           CRITICAL

Other files in this skill

• LICENSE
• references/api-reference.md
• scripts/agent.py

references/api-reference.md (verbatim)

API Reference: Analyzing Linux Kernel Rootkits

Volatility3 Linux Plugins

# Check syscall table for hooks
vol -f memory.lime linux.check_syscall.Check_syscall

# List loaded kernel modules
vol -f memory.lime linux.lsmod.Lsmod

# Detect hidden kernel modules
vol -f memory.lime linux.hidden_modules.Hidden_modules

# Check IDT for hooks
vol -f memory.lime linux.check_idt.Check_idt

# List processes (detect hidden)
vol -f memory.lime linux.pslist.PsList
vol -f memory.lime linux.pstree.PsTree

# Check for modified cred structures
vol -f memory.lime linux.check_creds.Check_creds

# Network connections
vol -f memory.lime linux.sockstat.Sockstat

# JSON output
vol -f memory.lime linux.check_syscall.Check_syscall -r json > syscalls.json

Memory Acquisition Tools

Volatility3 Symbol Tables (ISF)

# Generate ISF from running kernel
vol -f memory.lime banners.Banners
# Download matching ISF from:
# https://github.com/volatilityfoundation/volatility3#symbol-tables

rkhunter Commands

# Full system scan
rkhunter --check --skip-keypress --report-warnings-only

# Update signatures
rkhunter --update

# Check specific tests
rkhunter --check --enable rootkits,trojans,os_specific

# Output to log file
rkhunter --check --logfile /var/log/rkhunter.log

Known Linux Rootkits Detected

Cross-View Detection

# Compare /proc/modules vs /sys/module
diff <(cat /proc/modules | awk '{print $1}' | sort) \
     <(ls /sys/module/ | sort)

# Check for hidden processes
diff <(ls /proc/ | grep -E '^[0-9]+$' | sort -n) \
     <(ps -eo pid --no-headers | sort -n)

References

• Volatility3 Linux Plugins: https://volatility3.readthedocs.io/en/latest/volatility3.plugins.linux.html
• LiME: https://github.com/504ensicsLabs/LiME
• rkhunter: http://rkhunter.sourceforge.net/
• MITRE T1014 Rootkit: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1014/

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