configuring-host-based-intrusion-detection

Configures host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor endpoint file integrity, system calls, and configuration changes for security violations. Use when deploying OSSEC, Wazuh, or AIDE for endpoint monitoring, building file integrity monitoring (FIM) policies, or meeting compliance requirements for change detection. Activates for requests involving HIDS configuration, file integrity monitoring, OSSEC/Wazuh deployment, or host-based detection.

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Repository: mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills
Last source activity: June 1, 2026 at 10:13
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name	configuring-host-based-intrusion-detection
description	Configures host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor endpoint file integrity, system calls, and configuration changes for security violations. Use when deploying OSSEC, Wazuh, or AIDE for endpoint monitoring, building file integrity monitoring (FIM) policies, or meeting compliance requirements for change detection. Activates for requests involving HIDS configuration, file integrity monitoring, OSSEC/Wazuh deployment, or host-based detection.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	endpoint-security
tags	["endpoint","HIDS","Wazuh","OSSEC","file-integrity-monitoring","intrusion-detection"]
version	1.0.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["PR.PS-01","PR.PS-02","DE.CM-01","PR.IR-01"]
mitre_attack	["T1059","T1543","T1547","T1070","T1055"]

Configuring Host-Based Intrusion Detection

When to Use

Use this skill when:

Deploying HIDS agents (Wazuh, OSSEC, AIDE) across Windows and Linux endpoints
Configuring file integrity monitoring (FIM) for compliance (PCI DSS 11.5, NIST SI-7)
Monitoring system configuration changes, rootkit detection, and security policy violations
Integrating HIDS alerts with SIEM platforms for centralized monitoring

Do not use this skill for network-based IDS (Suricata, Snort) or for EDR deployment.

Prerequisites

Wazuh server (manager) deployed and accessible from endpoints
Administrative access to target endpoints
Network connectivity: agents to Wazuh manager on port 1514 (TCP/UDP) and 1515 (TCP enrollment)
Wazuh dashboard (OpenSearch Dashboards) for alert visualization
Understanding of critical files/directories to monitor per OS

Workflow

Step 1: Install Wazuh Agent

Windows:

# Download and install Wazuh agent
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://packages.wazuh.com/4.x/windows/wazuh-agent-4.9.0-1.msi" `
  -OutFile "wazuh-agent.msi"
msiexec /i wazuh-agent.msi /q WAZUH_MANAGER="wazuh-manager.corp.com" `
  WAZUH_REGISTRATION_SERVER="wazuh-manager.corp.com" WAZUH_AGENT_GROUP="windows-workstations"
net start WazuhSvc

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):

curl -s https://packages.wazuh.com/key/GPG-KEY-WAZUH | gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/wazuh.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/wazuh.gpg] https://packages.wazuh.com/4.x/apt/ stable main" \
  > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wazuh.list
apt-get update && apt-get install wazuh-agent -y
sed -i 's/MANAGER_IP/wazuh-manager.corp.com/' /var/ossec/etc/ossec.conf
systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl enable --now wazuh-agent

Step 2: Configure File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)

Edit agent configuration (/var/ossec/etc/ossec.conf or C:\Program Files (x86)\ossec-agent\ossec.conf):

<syscheck>
  <!-- Scan frequency: every 12 hours -->
  <frequency>43200</frequency>
  yes
  yes

  
  /etc
  /usr/bin
  /usr/sbin
  /bin
  /sbin
  /boot

  
  C:\Windows\System32
  C:\Windows\SysWOW64
  %PROGRAMFILES%

  
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services

  
  /etc/mtab
  /etc/resolv.conf
  .log$

<rootcheck>
  <disabled>no</disabled>
  <frequency>43200</frequency>
  <rootkit_files>/var/ossec/etc/shared/rootkit_files.txt</rootkit_files>
  <rootkit_trojans>/var/ossec/etc/shared/rootkit_trojans.txt</rootkit_trojans>
  <system_audit>/var/ossec/etc/shared/system_audit_rcl.txt</system_audit>
  <check_dev>yes</check_dev>
  <check_files>yes</check_files>
  <check_if>yes</check_if>
  <check_pids>yes</check_pids>
  <check_ports>yes</check_ports>
  <check_sys>yes</check_sys>
  <check_trojans>yes</check_trojans>
  <check_unixaudit>yes</check_unixaudit>
</rootcheck>

<!-- Custom rules in /var/ossec/etc/rules/local_rules.xml -->
<group name="local,syscheck,">
  <!-- Alert on critical binary modifications -->
  <rule id="100001" level="12">
    <if_sid>550</if_sid>
    <match>/usr/bin/|/usr/sbin/|/bin/|/sbin/</match>
    <description>Critical system binary modified: $(file)</description>
    <group>syscheck,pci_dss_11.5,</group>
  </rule>

  <!-- Alert on new executable in temp directories -->
  <rule id="100002" level="10">
    <if_sid>554</if_sid>
    <match>/tmp/|/var/tmp/</match>
    <description>New file created in temp directory: $(file)</description>
    <group>syscheck,malware,</group>
  </rule>

  <!-- Alert on SSH configuration changes -->
  <rule id="100003" level="10">
    <if_sid>550</if_sid>
    <match>/etc/ssh/sshd_config</match>
    <description>SSH configuration modified</description>
    <group>syscheck,authentication,</group>
  </rule>
</group>

<!-- Auto-block IP after repeated authentication failures -->
<active-response>
  <command>firewall-drop</command>
  <location>local</location>
  <rules_id>5712</rules_id>
  <timeout>600</timeout>
</active-response>

<!-- Disable account after brute force detection -->
<active-response>
  <disabled>no</disabled>
  <command>disable-account</command>
  <location>local</location>
  <rules_id>100100</rules_id>
  <timeout>3600</timeout>
</active-response>

# Wazuh to Splunk via Filebeat
# Edit /etc/filebeat/filebeat.yml:
filebeat.inputs:
  - type: log
    paths:
      - /var/ossec/logs/alerts/alerts.json
    json.keys_under_root: true
output.elasticsearch:
  hosts: ["https://splunk-hec:8088"]

# Wazuh to Elastic via direct integration
# Wazuh indexer feeds directly into OpenSearch/Elasticsearch
# Dashboard: https://wazuh-dashboard:5601

Term	Definition
HIDS	Host-based Intrusion Detection System; monitors individual endpoints for malicious activity
FIM	File Integrity Monitoring; detects unauthorized changes to files by comparing cryptographic hashes
Syscheck	Wazuh/OSSEC module for file integrity monitoring and registry monitoring
Rootcheck	Wazuh/OSSEC module for rootkit and malware detection
Active Response	Automated defensive action triggered by HIDS alert (IP block, account disable)
CDB List	Constant Database list used for custom lookups in Wazuh rules