SQL Client Tools PowerShell Session Detection — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Agro (@agro_sev) oscd.communitly. Source status: test; severity: medium. Source dates: 2020-10-13 / 2022-02-25.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 12f86bda7238ddd6772188b63944575db6b7e2578293e8543027c42a55aace33

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: SQL Client Tools PowerShell Session Detection
id: a746c9b8-a2fb-4ee5-a428-92bee9e99060
status: test
description: |
  This rule detects execution of a PowerShell code through the sqltoolsps.exe utility, which is included in the standard set of utilities supplied with the Microsoft SQL Server Management studio.
  Script blocks are not logged in this case, so this utility helps to bypass protection mechanisms based on the analysis of these logs.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/8283d8d91552213ded165fd36deb6cb9534cb443/yml/OtherMSBinaries/Sqltoolsps.yml
    - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/993298228840992768
author: 'Agro (@agro_sev) oscd.communitly'
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2022-02-25
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1127
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\sqltoolsps.exe'
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\sqltoolsps.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: '\sqltoolsps.exe'
    filter:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\smss.exe'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Direct PS command execution through SQLToolsPS.exe is uncommon, childprocess sqltoolsps.exe spawned by smss.exe is a legitimate action.
level: medium

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Direct PS command execution through SQLToolsPS.exe is uncommon, childprocess sqltoolsps.exe spawned by smss.exe is a legitimate action.

Source references

• https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/8283d8d91552213ded165fd36deb6cb9534cb443/yml/OtherMSBinaries/Sqltoolsps.yml
• https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/993298228840992768