Auth.log digest, 2026-05-25 06:00–07:00 MDT

What happened

The activity observed during the time window was focused on local system maintenance and integrity verification on a single workstation. The user 'ross' executed commands related to installing experimental kernel packages and performing system integrity checks using tools like `setup-aide.sh` and `aide --check`. These actions involved interacting with package management and system service status checks. No authentication failures or external network traffic were recorded, indicating dedicated, local administrative maintenance rather than external intrusion.

Narrative

Auth.log digest for ross-HP-Z230-SFF-Workstation, 2026-05-25 06:00 – 07:00 MDT. CRON ACTIVITY Total cron sessions: 4 root: 3 ross: 1 AUTH FAILURES None. SUDO ACTIVITY ross → root: /usr/bin/systemctl --failed ross → root: /usr/bin/dpkg -i linux-image-7.0.10-free-mps-experimental_7.0.10-1_amd64.deb linux-headers-7.0.10-free-mps-experimental_ ross → root: /usr/bin/grep menuentry /boot/grub/grub.cfg ross → root: /usr/bin/systemctl --failed ross → root: /usr/bin/systemctl --failed ross → root: /home/ross/bin/setup-aide.sh ross → root: /usr/bin/aide --check ross → root: /usr/bin/ls -la /var/lib/aide/ ross → root: /usr/bin/aide --config=/etc/aide/aide.conf --check ross → root: /usr/bin/ls -la /var/lib/aide/ … and 21 more LOCAL SESSIONS 2 desktop unlock(s) (GDM)

Blue Team — Operational Summary

The workstation generated internal system maintenance and integrity checks during the specified one-hour window. The activity involved extensive interaction with the system's package management (dpkg), kernel headers, and system service status checks (systemctl). Specifically, the user 'ross' executed scripts and tools related to system health auditing, including running `setup-aide.sh` and `aide --check` against system files, and checking GRUB entries. No authentication failures were recorded, and no external network traffic was observed. Two local desktop unlock events were logged. The overall pattern indicates dedicated, local system maintenance activity rather than external intrusion or data exfiltration.

Red Team — Facts Only

* Source system: ross-HP-Z230-SFF-Workstation. * Time window: 2026-05-25 06:00 – 07:00 MDT. * Total cron sessions: 4 (root: 3, ross: 1). * Authentication failures: 0. * Sudo activity included package installation attempts: `dpkg -i linux-image-7.0.10-free-mps-experimental7.0.10-1amd64.deb linux-headers-7.0.10-free-mps-experimental`. * Sudo activity included system status checks: Multiple executions of `systemctl --failed`. * Sudo activity included system integrity checks: Execution of `/home/ross/bin/setup-aide.sh`, `/usr/bin/aide --check`, and file listing of `/var/lib/aide/`. * Sudo activity included configuration check: Execution of `/usr/bin/grep menuentry /boot/grub/grub.cfg`. * Total documented sudo commands: 21 or more.

Purple Team — Pattern Analysis

The operational pattern is consistent with routine, deep-level system maintenance and integrity verification performed by the user 'ross'. The sequence of actions—installing experimental kernel packages, checking system services, and running the Aide integrity checker—suggests a deliberate effort to verify or correct the system's state. The fact that these actions are executed locally via sudo and involve tools like `aide` and `systemctl` implies an internal focus on system stability and configuration health. The execution of `systemctl --failed` multiple times, combined with package installation, suggests a post-update or maintenance verification process. No external communication or anomalous high-volume traffic was observed, aligning with the maintenance-focused nature of the activity. The signal is concentrated on local system state management, indicating routine administrative tasks rather than a distributed adversarial staging or exfiltration pattern.