Suspicious PowerShell Invocation From Script Engines — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: medium. Source dates: 2019-01-16 / 2023-01-05.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 29598ca9b9bce84ae8bea63238bbb14355f2ce203d12d512026e66423056ba03

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Suspicious PowerShell Invocation From Script Engines
id: 95eadcb2-92e4-4ed1-9031-92547773a6db
status: test
description: Detects suspicious powershell invocations from interpreters or unusual programs
references:
    - https://www.securitynewspaper.com/2017/03/20/attackers-leverage-excel-powershell-dns-latest-non-malware-attack/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2019-01-16
modified: 2023-01-05
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\wscript.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
    filter_health_service:
        CurrentDirectory|contains: '\Health Service State\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)
    - Other scripts
level: medium

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)
• Other scripts

Source references

• https://www.securitynewspaper.com/2017/03/20/attackers-leverage-excel-powershell-dns-latest-non-malware-attack/