Clearing Windows Console History — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Austin Songer @austinsonger. Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2021-11-25 / 2022-12-25.

{
  "product": "windows",
  "category": "ps_script",
  "definition": "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 72e0d93f04e2fa34548e82011d6927f272786cbe9d31dae0f603665f8651e25c

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: Clearing Windows Console History
id: bde47d4b-9987-405c-94c7-b080410e8ea7
status: test
description: Identifies when a user attempts to clear console history. An adversary may clear the command history of a compromised account to conceal the actions undertaken during an intrusion.
references:
    - https://stefanos.cloud/blog/kb/how-to-clear-the-powershell-command-history/
    - https://www.shellhacks.com/clear-history-powershell/
    - https://community.sophos.com/sophos-labs/b/blog/posts/powershell-command-history-forensics
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger
date: 2021-11-25
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1070
    - attack.t1070.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection1:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: Clear-History
    selection2a:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - Remove-Item
            - rm
    selection2b:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - ConsoleHost_history.txt
            - (Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath
    condition: selection1 or selection2a and selection2b
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unknown

Source references

• https://stefanos.cloud/blog/kb/how-to-clear-the-powershell-command-history/
• https://www.shellhacks.com/clear-history-powershell/
• https://community.sophos.com/sophos-labs/b/blog/posts/powershell-command-history-forensics