Identifier / Programs / Linux and Unix
env
Show the environment or run a program in a modified environment. tldr-pages
GTFOBins shell 1 Sigma rule name it 1 ATT&CK technique 1 documented command
How env is abused
shell T1059.004 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell
Each abuse is GTFOBins's category and the options and words it uses; the full write-up is on GTFOBins's page for env.
1 documented command
shell unprivileged, with sudo, as SUID
env /bin/shAs SUID:
env /bin/sh -pTrips 1 Sigma rule: highShell Invocation via Env Command - Linux by Li Ling, Andy Parkidomo, Robert Rakowski, Blake Hartstein (Bloomberg L.P.)
The command the identifier reads trips a Sigma process-creation rule. This command is from GTFOBins, at commit acd524623f9c of 2026-05-27, under the GPL-3.0, with no warranty. Changed: Markdown is shown formatted. The source is in lolbas-gtfobins-commands.json.gz, and the full entry is on GTFOBins’s page for env. The identifier reads the line that runs env.
What detects it
Everyday use
Show the environment
envIdentifyRun a program. Often used in scripts after the shebang (#!) for looking up the path to the program
env programIdentifyClear the environment and run a program
env --ignore-environment programIdentifyNone of the 3 examples the identifier reads matches GTFOBins abuse or trips a Sigma process-creation rule.
Options
Show every option of env
-e FILEExecute FILE instead of argv[0] in COMMAND list-iClear existing environment-u NAMERemove NAME from the environment-0Use null instead of newline in output