IMPORTANT: No additional bug fixes or documentation updates
will be released for this version. For the latest information, see the
current release documentation.
Suspicious PowerShell Execution via Windows Scripts
editSuspicious PowerShell Execution via Windows Scripts
editIdentifies suspicious PowerShell execution spawning from Windows Script Host processes (cscript or wscript.exe).
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- winlogbeat-*
- logs-windows.*
- logs-system.security*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
- logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
- logs-m365_defender.event-*
Severity: high
Risk score: 73
Runs every: 5m
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time
)
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
References: None
Tags:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Execution
- Data Source: System
- Data Source: Sysmon
- Data Source: SentinelOne
- Data Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Version: 1
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Rule query
editprocess where host.os.type == "windows" and event.action == "start" and process.name : ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe") and process.parent.name : ("wscript.exe", "cscript.exe", "mshta.exe") and ( process.args_count == 1 or process.command_line : ("*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*", "*''*''*''*", "*`*`*`*`*", "*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*{*", "*+*+*+*+*+*", "*$*$*$*$*", "*[char[]](*)*-join", "*Base64String*", "*[*Convert]*", "*.Text.Encoding*", "*.Compression.*", "*.replace(*", "*MemoryStream*", "*WriteAllBytes*", "* -en* *", "* -ec *", "* -e *", "* -ep *", "* /e *", "* /en* *", "* /ec *", "* /ep *", "*WebClient*", "*DownloadFile*", "*DownloadString*", "*BitsTransfer*", "*Invoke-Exp*", "*invoke-web*", "*iex*", "*iwr*", "*Reflection.Assembly*", "*Assembly.GetType*", "*.Sockets.*", "*Add-MpPreference*ExclusionPath*", "*raw.githubusercontent*") ) and /* many legit powershell commands uses those non shortened execution flags excluding Sync-AppvPublishingServer lolbas */ not (process.args : ("-EncodedCommand", "Import-Module*", "-NonInteractive") and process.args : "-ExecutionPolicy" and not process.args : "Sync-AppvPublishingServer") and /* third party installation related FPs */ not ?process.parent.args : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\gatherNetworkInfo.vbs" and not (?process.parent.args : "Microsoft.SystemCenter.ICMPProbe.WithConsecutiveSamples.vbs" and process.args : "Get-SCOMAgent") and not (process.command_line : "*WEBLOGIC_ARGS_CURRENT_1.DATA*" and ?process.parent.command_line : "*Impact360*") and not process.args : "$package = Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Office.Desktop -allUsers;*" and not process.command_line : ("*.Access.IdentityReference*win32_SID.SID*", "*AGIAbQB4AC0AYQBwAC4AcwAzAC4AdQBzAC0AZQBhAHMAd*") and not (?process.parent.args : "?:\\Users\\Prestige\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\Rar$*\\KMS_VL_ALL_AIO.cmd -elevated" and process.command_line : "*KMS_VL_ALL_AIO.cmd*") and not process.args : "iwr https://*.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/scripts/Start-SpeedTest.ps1 -UserAgent * -UseBasicParsing | invoke-expression" and not (process.parent.name : "wscript.exe" and ?process.parent.args : "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Telivy\\Telivy Agent\\telivy.js")
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
-
Technique:
- Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
- ID: T1059
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: PowerShell
- ID: T1059.001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Visual Basic
- ID: T1059.005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005/