PowerShell Script with Log Clear Capabilities

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Identifies the use of Cmdlets and methods related to Windows event log deletion activities. This is often done by attackers in an attempt to evade detection or destroy forensic evidence on a system.

Rule type: query

Rule indices:

  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-windows.*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 60m

Searches indices from: now-119m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Windows
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Defense Evasion
  • Data Source: PowerShell Logs
  • Rule Type: BBR

Version: 3

Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

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event.category:process and host.os.type:windows and
  powershell.file.script_block_text : (
    "Clear-EventLog" or
    "Remove-EventLog" or
    ("Eventing.Reader.EventLogSession" and ".ClearLog") or
    ("Diagnostics.EventLog" and ".Clear")
  ) and
  not file.path : (
    ?\:\\\\*\\\\system32\\\\WindowsPowerShell\\\\v1.0\\\\Modules\\\\Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\\\\*.psd1
  )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM