Rapid7

module

Rootkit Privilege Escalation Signal Hunter

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Disclosed
Nov 7, 2013
Created
Oct 31, 2025

Description

This module searches for rootkits which use signals to elevate
process privileges to UID 0 (root).

Some rootkits install signal handlers which listen for specific
signals to elevate process privileges. This module identifies these
rootkits by sending signals and observing UID switching to root.

This module has been tested successfully with:

Singularity 5b6c4b6 (2025-10-19) on Ubuntu 24.04
kernel 6.14.0-33-generic (x64);
Diamorphine 2337293 (2023-09-20) on Ubuntu 22.04
kernel 5.19.0-38-generic (x64);
Codeine 9644336 (2025-09-02) on Ubuntu 22.04
kernel 5.19.0-38-generic (x64).

Author

bcoles [email protected]

Platform

Linux

Architectures

x86, x64, armle, aarch64, riscv64le, riscv32le, ppc, mipsle, mipsbe

References

Module Options

To display the available options, load the module within the Metasploit console and run the commands 'show options' or 'show advanced':


    msf > use exploit/linux/local/rootkit_privesc_signal_hunter
    msf exploit(rootkit_privesc_signal_hunter) > show targets
        ...targets...
    msf exploit(rootkit_privesc_signal_hunter) > set TARGET < target-id >
    msf exploit(rootkit_privesc_signal_hunter) > show options
        ...show and set options...
    msf exploit(rootkit_privesc_signal_hunter) > exploit
Title
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