File Deletion

Refers to events where files are removed from a system or storage device. These events can indicate legitimate housekeeping activities or malicious actions such as attackers attempting to cover their tracks. Monitoring file deletions helps organizations identify unauthorized or suspicious activities.

ID: DC0040
Domains: ICS, Enterprise
Version: 2.0
Created: 20 October 2021
Last Modified: 12 November 2025

Log Sources

Name Channel
auditd:CONFIG_CHANGE /etc/fstab, /etc/systemd/*
auditd:SYSCALL unlink/unlinkat on service binaries or data targets
auditd:SYSCALL file deletion
auditd:SYSCALL PATH
auditd:SYSCALL unlink, unlinkat, openat, write
auditd:SYSCALL unlink, unlinkat, rmdir
auditd:SYSCALL unlink, rename, open
auditd:SYSCALL unlink/unlinkat
docker:daemon container file operations
esxi:hostd delete action
esxi:hostd rm, clearlogs, logrotate
esxi:hostd Datastore file operations
esxi:shell shell history
esxi:shell /var/log/shell.log
File None
fs:fsusage unlink, fs_delete
linux:Sysmon EventCode=23
macos:osquery file_events
macos:osquery CREATE, DELETE, WRITE: Stored data manipulation attempts by unauthorized processes
macos:unifiedlog exec rm -rf|dd if=/dev|srm|file unlink
WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Backup Windows Backup Catalog deletion or catalog corruption
WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=23

Detection Strategy