# T1685.006 Clear Linux or Mac System Logs

> As of 2026-10-05, T1685.006 (Clear Linux or Mac System Logs) appears in 32 tracked threats, first reported 2026-01-29 and most recently 2026-09-16, with linked actors including UAT-8616, UAT-9686, VECT; it most often appears alongside T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application).

- **Tracked threats:** 32 (21 critical, 9 high, 2 medium)
- **First seen:** 2026-01-29
- **Last seen:** 2026-09-16
- **Threat actors:** 9
- **Detection rules:** 37 (counts only; Blue tier and above)

## Key facts

- **ID:** T1685.006
- **Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- **Tactics:** Defense Impairment
- **Matrix:** Enterprise
- **Parent:** T1685
- **Data as of:** 2026-10-05
- **MITRE:** https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/006/

## Activity timeline

T1685.006 first appeared in tracked threats on 2026-01-29 and was most recently reported on 2026-09-16. The busiest month was 2026-07 with 8 reports, and 32 of the 32 threats were reported in the twelve months to 2026-09.

## How adversaries use it

T1685.006 Clear Linux or Mac System Logs is catalogued by MITRE ATT&CK under the Defense Impairment tactic in the Enterprise matrix, as a sub-technique of [T1685 Disable or Modify Tools](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1685). Threadlinqs maps 32 of 2623 tracked threats (1.2%) to it; by severity that is 21 critical, 9 high, 2 medium.

Threats that use T1685.006 most often also use [T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1190) (26 threats), [T1059.004 Unix Shell](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059.004) (23 threats), [T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1068) (22 threats), [T1071.001 Web Protocols](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1071.001) (19 threats), [T1005 Data from Local System](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1005) (18 threats). These are the techniques an intrusion set tends to chain with it, so they are the natural next places to look when it is observed.

9 tracked threat actors appear in the threats that use T1685.006; the most frequent are [UAT-8616](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/UAT-8616) (3), [UAT-9686](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/UAT-9686) (2), [VECT](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/VECT) (2), [Velvet Ant](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/Velvet%20Ant) (2), [INC Ransom](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/INC%20Ransom) (1).

## Threat actors using it

- [UAT-8616](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/UAT-8616) — 3
- [UAT-9686](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/UAT-9686) — 2
- [VECT](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/VECT) — 2
- [Velvet Ant](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/Velvet%20Ant) — 2
- [INC Ransom](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/INC%20Ransom) — 1
- [INC Ransom - G1032](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/INC%20Ransom%20-%20G1032) — 1
- [Lynx](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/Lynx) — 1
- [TeamPCP](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/TeamPCP) — 1
- [Vect Ransomware](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/Vect%20Ransomware) — 1

## Tracked threats

The 30 most recent of 32 tracked threats that use T1685.006.

- [CISA KEV Catalog Addition: Active Exploitation of Cisco ISE Authentication Bypass (CVE-2026-76460) and…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2542) — critical — 2026-09-16
- [Attacker Maintains Root-Level MeshCentral Backdoor Inside Thai ISP 3BB, Targets RADIUS Subscriber-Credential…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2514) — high — 2026-09-15
- [CISA Adds Actively Exploited Cisco Secure Email Gateway SQL Injection (CVE-2026-76461) to KEV Catalog](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2508) — critical — 2026-09-14
- [DPRK-Linked APT37 (Medium Confidence) Deploys Novel 'Ted' HAProxy Backdoor and 'CurlRAT'-Trojanized Linux…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2329) — high — 2026-09-04
- [PaperCut NG/MF Print Management Software Under Active Exploitation of Unpatched Vulnerability](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2171) — high — 2026-08-27
- [VECT 2.0 Ransomware's Nonce-Reuse Flaw Turns It Into an Accidental Wiper for Files Over 128KB](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2116) — high — 2026-08-22
- [Three Critical VMware Flaws (CVE-2026-59309, CVE-2026-59310, CVE-2026-47876) Allow Auth Bypass, RCE, and VM…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1764) — critical — 2026-07-29
- [wp2shell: WordPress Core REST API Batch-Route Confusion Chained with author__not_in SQL Injection…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1463) — critical — 2026-07-17
- [SonicWall SMA1000 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-15409, CVE-2026-15410) Actively Exploited in Tandem](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1357) — critical — 2026-07-15
- [SonicWall SMA1000 SSRF (CVE-2026-15409) and Post-Auth Code Injection (CVE-2026-15410) Exploited as Zero-Days](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1335) — critical — 2026-07-14
- [Check Point AI Security Report 2026: AI Shifts from Attack Tool to Autonomous Intrusion Operator (VoidLink…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1286) — high — 2026-07-13
- [VEXAIoT: Autonomous Multi-Agent LLM Framework Automates End-to-End IoT Vulnerability Discovery and…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1261) — medium — 2026-07-13
- [FortiBleed: Mass Credential Compromise Campaign Against Internet-Exposed Fortinet FortiGate Devices (86,644…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1232) — critical — 2026-07-11
- [Multi-Malware Campaign Targeting Poorly Secured Linux SSH Servers — XMRig, ShellBot, MIG LogCleaner, XHide…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1156) — medium — 2026-07-03
- [Velvet Ant (China-Nexus) 'Operation Highland' — Backdoored pam_unix.so PAM Module and Trojanized OpenSSH for…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0809) — high — 2026-06-15
- [Velvet Ant (Operation Highland): Backdoored Linux PAM and OpenSSH for ~Decade-Long Espionage Persistence](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0807) — critical — 2026-06-15
- [Wazuh Manager 5.0 inventory_sync NDJSON Injection in OpenSearch _bulk API (GHSA-ff9g-85jq-r3g3, CVSS 10.0)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0800) — critical — 2026-06-15
- [Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager CVE-2026-20245 — Actively Exploited 0-Day: Authenticated File-Upload Command…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0696) — high — 2026-06-06
- [LiteSpeed User-End cPanel Plugin 0-Day CVE-2026-48172 — lsws.redisAble Local Privilege Escalation Exploited…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0565) — critical — 2026-05-22
- [Cisco Secure Workload CVE-2026-20223 — Maximum-Severity Unauthenticated Site Admin Privilege Escalation via…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0548) — critical — 2026-05-21
- [Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) Improper Input Validation Authenticated RCE Zero-Day — CVE-2026-6973…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0477) — high — 2026-05-07
- [PAN-OS User-ID Authentication Portal RCE Zero-Day (CVE-2026-0300) — Active Exploitation on PA-Series &…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0465) — critical — 2026-05-06
- [Quasar Linux (QLNX) — Sophisticated Linux RAT With LD_PRELOAD Rootkit, PAM Backdoor & DevOps Credential…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0456) — high — 2026-05-04
- [cPanel & WHM Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CVE-2026-41940) — CISA KEV](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0440) — critical — 2026-04-30
- [VECT Ransomware 2.0 — Russian-Speaking RaaS with ChaCha20 Buffer-Reuse Bug Producing Permanent Data…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0432) — critical — 2026-04-28
- [CVE-2026-20127 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Zero-Day — UAT-8616 Authentication Bypass Active Exploitation](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0166) — critical — 2026-03-02
- [RESURGE Passive Rootkit — Ivanti Connect Secure CVE-2025-0282 Exploitation, CRC32 TLS Fingerprint C2, Covert…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0163) — critical — 2026-03-02
- [Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Zero-Day (CVE-2026-20127) — UAT-8616 Active Exploitation Since 2023, Authentication…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0145) — critical — 2026-02-26
- [VMware ESXi 3-CVE Zero-Day Chain — VMCI Heap-Overflow + Sandbox Escape + HGFS Info Leak (VMSA-2025-0004…](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0093) — critical — 2026-02-16
- [BPFDoor — Chinese Nation-State Linux Backdoor Using Berkeley Packet Filters for Covert C2 Activation](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0087) — critical — 2026-02-15

## Related CVEs

CVEs referenced by the tracked threats that use T1685.006, most frequent first.

- [CVE-2022-20775](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2022-20775)
- [CVE-2024-21762](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2024-21762)
- [CVE-2026-15409](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-15409)
- [CVE-2026-15410](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-15410)
- [CVE-2026-20127](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-20127)
- [CVE-2004-2687](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2004-2687)
- [CVE-2011-2523](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2011-2523)
- [CVE-2016-5195](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2016-5195)
- [CVE-2018-13379](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2018-13379)
- [CVE-2019-12108](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2019-12108)
- [CVE-2019-12109](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2019-12109)
- [CVE-2019-12110](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2019-12110)
- [CVE-2019-12111](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2019-12111)
- [CVE-2020-28951](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2020-28951)
- [CVE-2021-4034](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2021-4034)
- [CVE-2022-40684](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2022-40684)
- [CVE-2022-41328](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2022-41328)
- [CVE-2022-42475](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2022-42475)
- [CVE-2023-27997](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2023-27997)
- [CVE-2023-48788](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2023-48788)
- [CVE-2024-55591](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2024-55591)
- [CVE-2025-0282](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-0282)
- [CVE-2025-22224](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-22224)
- [CVE-2025-22225](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-22225)
- [CVE-2025-22226](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-22226)
- [CVE-2025-59718](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-59718)
- [CVE-2025-59719](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-59719)
- [CVE-2025-68686](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-68686)
- [CVE-2026-0300](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-0300)
- [CVE-2026-1281](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-1281)

## Detection coverage

Threadlinqs maintains 37 detection rules mapped to T1685.006 (SPL 9, KQL 15, Sigma 13). Rule content is available to Blue tier accounts and above; this page shows counts only.

37 detection rules (SPL/KQL/Sigma), Blue and above: https://threadlinqs.com/pricing

## Parent technique

[T1685 Disable or Modify Tools](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1685) — 750 tracked threats at the technique level.

## Links

- Canonical page: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1685.006
- All techniques: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/techniques
- Full detection coverage and IOCs: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp (Purple tier)