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Sigma

Sigma rules for Sapphire Sleet

500 rules · scoped to actor · back to Sapphire Sleet
Direct rules mention this entity in their title or description. Related rules cover the techniques this entity is known to use.
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Detection rules

50 of 500
related high
SQLite Chromium Profile Data DB Access
Detect usage of the "sqlite" binary to query databases in Chromium-based browsers for potential data stealing.
status test author TropChaud id 24c77512-782b-448a-8950-eddb0785fc71 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: SQLite Chromium Profile Data DB Access
id: 24c77512-782b-448a-8950-eddb0785fc71
status: test
description: Detect usage of the "sqlite" binary to query databases in Chromium-based browsers for potential data stealing.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/84d9edaaaa2c5511144521b0e4af726d1c7276ce/atomics/T1539/T1539.md#atomic-test-2---steal-chrome-cookies-windows
    - https://blog.cyble.com/2022/04/21/prynt-stealer-a-new-info-stealer-performing-clipper-and-keylogger-activities/
author: TropChaud
date: 2022-12-19
modified: 2023-01-19
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1539
    - attack.t1555.003
    - attack.collection
    - attack.t1005
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_sql:
        - Product: SQLite
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\sqlite.exe'
              - '\sqlite3.exe'
    selection_chromium:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\User Data\' # Most common folder for user profile data among Chromium browsers
            - '\Opera Software\' # Opera
            - '\ChromiumViewer\' # Sleipnir (Fenrir)
    selection_data:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Login Data' # Passwords
            - 'Cookies'
            - 'Web Data' # Credit cards, autofill data
            - 'History'
            - 'Bookmarks'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
SQLite Firefox Profile Data DB Access
Detect usage of the "sqlite" binary to query databases in Firefox and other Gecko-based browsers for potential data stealing.
status test author frack113 id 4833155a-4053-4c9c-a997-777fcea0baa7 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: SQLite Firefox Profile Data DB Access
id: 4833155a-4053-4c9c-a997-777fcea0baa7
status: test
description: Detect usage of the "sqlite" binary to query databases in Firefox and other Gecko-based browsers for potential data stealing.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1539/T1539.md#atomic-test-1---steal-firefox-cookies-windows
    - https://blog.cyble.com/2022/04/21/prynt-stealer-a-new-info-stealer-performing-clipper-and-keylogger-activities/
author: frack113
date: 2022-04-08
modified: 2023-01-19
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1539
    - attack.collection
    - attack.t1005
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_sql:
        - Product: SQLite
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\sqlite.exe'
              - '\sqlite3.exe'
    selection_firefox:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'cookies.sqlite'
            - 'places.sqlite' # Bookmarks, history
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Exports Critical Registry Keys To a File
Detects the export of a crital Registry key to a file.
status test author Oddvar Moe, Sander Wiebing, oscd.community id 82880171-b475-4201-b811-e9c826cd5eaa license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Exports Critical Registry Keys To a File
id: 82880171-b475-4201-b811-e9c826cd5eaa
related:
    - id: f0e53e89-8d22-46ea-9db5-9d4796ee2f8a
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects the export of a crital Registry key to a file.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Regedit/
    - https://gist.github.com/api0cradle/cdd2d0d0ec9abb686f0e89306e277b8f
author: Oddvar Moe, Sander Wiebing, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2024-03-13
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1012
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\regedit.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'REGEDIT.EXE'
    selection_cli_1:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -E '
    selection_cli_2:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'hklm'
            - 'hkey_local_machine'
    selection_cli_3:
        CommandLine|endswith:
            - '\system'
            - '\sam'
            - '\security'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Dumping hives for legitimate purpouse i.e. backup or forensic investigation
level: high
related high
HackTool - PCHunter Execution
Detects suspicious use of PCHunter, a tool like Process Hacker to view and manipulate processes, kernel options and other low level stuff
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali id fca949cc-79ca-446e-8064-01aa7e52ece5 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: HackTool - PCHunter Execution
id: fca949cc-79ca-446e-8064-01aa7e52ece5
status: test
description: Detects suspicious use of PCHunter, a tool like Process Hacker to view and manipulate processes, kernel options and other low level stuff
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20231210115125/http://www.xuetr.com/
    - https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/falcon-overwatch-report-finds-increase-in-ecrime/
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2018/04/20/kernel-hacking-tool-you-might-have-never-heard-of-xuetr-pchunter/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali
date: 2022-10-10
modified: 2024-11-23
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1082
    - attack.t1057
    - attack.t1012
    - attack.t1083
    - attack.t1007
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_image:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\PCHunter64.exe'
            - '\PCHunter32.exe'
    selection_pe:
        - OriginalFileName: 'PCHunter.exe'
        - Description: 'Epoolsoft Windows Information View Tools'
    selection_hashes:
        Hashes|contains:
            - 'SHA1=5F1CBC3D99558307BC1250D084FA968521482025'
            - 'MD5=987B65CD9B9F4E9A1AFD8F8B48CF64A7'
            - 'SHA256=2B214BDDAAB130C274DE6204AF6DBA5AEEC7433DA99AA950022FA306421A6D32'
            - 'IMPHASH=444D210CEA1FF8112F256A4997EED7FF'
            - 'SHA1=3FB89787CB97D902780DA080545584D97FB1C2EB'
            - 'MD5=228DD0C2E6287547E26FFBD973A40F14'
            - 'SHA256=55F041BF4E78E9BFA6D4EE68BE40E496CE3A1353E1CA4306598589E19802522C'
            - 'IMPHASH=0479F44DF47CFA2EF1CCC4416A538663'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
related high
SAM Registry Hive Handle Request
Detects handles requested to SAM registry hive
status test author Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g id f8748f2c-89dc-4d95-afb0-5a2dfdbad332 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: SAM Registry Hive Handle Request
id: f8748f2c-89dc-4d95-afb0-5a2dfdbad332
status: test
description: Detects handles requested to SAM registry hive
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190725-SAMRegistryHiveHandleRequest/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-08-12
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1012
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1552.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4656
        ObjectType: 'Key'
        ObjectName|endswith: '\SAM'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
SysKey Registry Keys Access
Detects handle requests and access operations to specific registry keys to calculate the SysKey
status test author Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g id 9a4ff3b8-6187-4fd2-8e8b-e0eae1129495 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: SysKey Registry Keys Access
id: 9a4ff3b8-6187-4fd2-8e8b-e0eae1129495
status: test
description: Detects handle requests and access operations to specific registry keys to calculate the SysKey
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190625-RegKeyAccessSyskey/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-08-12
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1012
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 4656
            - 4663
        ObjectType: 'key'
        ObjectName|endswith:
            - 'lsa\JD'
            - 'lsa\GBG'
            - 'lsa\Skew1'
            - 'lsa\Data'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
OpenCanary - SNMP OID Request
Detects instances where an SNMP service on an OpenCanary node has had an OID request.
status test author Security Onion Solutions id e9856028-fd4e-46e6-b3d1-10f7ceb95078 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: OpenCanary - SNMP OID Request
id: e9856028-fd4e-46e6-b3d1-10f7ceb95078
status: test
description: Detects instances where an SNMP service on an OpenCanary node has had an OID request.
references:
    - https://opencanary.readthedocs.io/en/latest/starting/configuration.html#services-configuration
    - https://github.com/thinkst/opencanary/blob/a0896adfcaf0328cfd5829fe10d2878c7445138e/opencanary/logger.py#L52
author: Security Onion Solutions
date: 2024-03-08
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1016
    - attack.t1021
logsource:
    category: application
    product: opencanary
detection:
    selection:
        logtype: 13001
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
related high
Modification or Deletion of an AWS RDS Cluster
Detects modifications to an RDS cluster or its deletion, which may indicate potential data exfiltration attempts, unauthorized access, or exposure of sensitive information.
status experimental author Ivan Saakov id 457cc9ac-d8e6-4d1d-8c0e-251d0f11a74c license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Modification or Deletion of an AWS RDS Cluster
id: 457cc9ac-d8e6-4d1d-8c0e-251d0f11a74c
status: experimental
description: Detects modifications to an RDS cluster or its deletion, which may indicate potential data exfiltration attempts, unauthorized access, or exposure of sensitive information.
references:
    - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_ModifyDBCluster.html
    - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_DeleteDBCluster.html
    - https://cloud.hacktricks.xyz/pentesting-cloud/aws-security/aws-privilege-escalation/aws-rds-privesc#rds-modifydbinstance
author: Ivan Saakov
date: 2024-12-06
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1020
logsource:
    product: aws
    service: cloudtrail
detection:
    selection:
        eventSource: rds.amazonaws.com
        eventName:
            - ModifyDBCluster
            - DeleteDBCluster
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Verify if the modification or deletion was performed by an authorized administrator.
    - Confirm if the modification or deletion was part of a planned change or maintenance activity.
level: high
related high
Restore Public AWS RDS Instance
Detects the recovery of a new public database instance from a snapshot. It may be a part of data exfiltration.
status test author faloker id c3f265c7-ff03-4056-8ab2-d486227b4599 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Restore Public AWS RDS Instance
id: c3f265c7-ff03-4056-8ab2-d486227b4599
status: test
description: Detects the recovery of a new public database instance from a snapshot. It may be a part of data exfiltration.
references:
    - https://github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu/blob/866376cd711666c775bbfcde0524c817f2c5b181/pacu/modules/rds__explore_snapshots/main.py
author: faloker
date: 2020-02-12
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1020
logsource:
    product: aws
    service: cloudtrail
detection:
    selection_source:
        eventSource: rds.amazonaws.com
        responseElements.publiclyAccessible: 'true'
        eventName: RestoreDBInstanceFromDBSnapshot
    condition: selection_source
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Suspicious Filename with Embedded Base64 Commands
Detects files with specially crafted filenames that embed Base64-encoded bash payloads designed to execute when processed by shell scripts. These filenames exploit shell interpretation quirks to trigger hidden commands, a technique observed in VShell malware campaigns.
status experimental author @kostastsale id 179b3686-6271-4d87-807d-17d843a8af73 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Suspicious Filename with Embedded Base64 Commands
id: 179b3686-6271-4d87-807d-17d843a8af73
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects files with specially crafted filenames that embed Base64-encoded bash payloads designed to execute when processed by shell scripts.
    These filenames exploit shell interpretation quirks to trigger hidden commands, a technique observed in VShell malware campaigns.
references:
    - https://www.trellix.com/blogs/research/the-silent-fileless-threat-of-vshell/
author: '@kostastsale'
date: 2025-11-22
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.004
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - '{echo'
            - '{base64,-d}'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate files with similar naming patterns (very unlikely).
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Rundll32 - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Rundll32 in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id 88a22f69-62f9-4b8a-aa00-6b0212f2f05a license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Rundll32 - PowerShell Module
id: 88a22f69-62f9-4b8a-aa00-6b0212f2f05a
related:
    - id: a5a30a6e-75ca-4233-8b8c-42e0f2037d3b
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Rundll32 in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-08
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|contains|all:
            - '&&'
            - 'rundll32'
            - 'shell32.dll'
            - 'shellexec_rundll'
        Payload|contains:
            - 'value'
            - 'invoke'
            - 'comspec'
            - 'iex'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation CLIP+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated use of Clip.exe to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id a136cde0-61ad-4a61-9b82-8dc490e60dd2 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation CLIP+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
id: a136cde0-61ad-4a61-9b82-8dc490e60dd2
related:
    - id: 73e67340-0d25-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of Clip.exe to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 26)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+clip(?:\.exe)?.{0,4}&&.+clipboard]::\(\s\\"\{\d\}.+-f.+"'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id 07ad2ea8-6a55-4ac6-bf3e-91b8e59676eb license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module
id: 07ad2ea8-6a55-4ac6-bf3e-91b8e59676eb
related:
    - id: e55a5195-4724-480e-a77e-3ebe64bd3759
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task31)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-08
modified: 2023-01-04
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection:
        Payload|contains|all:
            - 'set'
            - '&&'
            - 'mshta'
            - 'vbscript:createobject'
            - '.run'
            - '(window.close)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
status test author Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community id f3c89218-8c3d-4ba9-9974-f1d8e6a1b4a6 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION - PowerShell Module
id: f3c89218-8c3d-4ba9-9974-f1d8e6a1b4a6
related:
    - id: e54f5149-6ba3-49cf-b153-070d24679126
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task27)
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: '(?i)&&set.*(\{\d\}){2,}\\"\s+?-f.*&&.*cmd.*/c' # FPs with |\/r
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation - PowerShell Module
Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the code block cited in the reference section below
status test author Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community id 2f211361-7dce-442d-b78a-c04039677378 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation - PowerShell Module
id: 2f211361-7dce-442d-b78a-c04039677378
related:
    - id: 1b9dc62e-6e9e-42a3-8990-94d7a10007f7
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the code block cited in the reference section below
references:
    - https://github.com/danielbohannon/Invoke-Obfuscation/blob/f20e7f843edd0a3a7716736e9eddfa423395dd26/Out-ObfuscatedStringCommand.ps1#L873-L888
author: Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community
date: 2019-11-08
modified: 2022-12-31
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_payload:
        - Payload|re: '\$PSHome\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$PSHome\['
        - Payload|re: '\$ShellId\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$ShellId\['
        - Payload|re: '\$env:Public\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$env:Public\['
        - Payload|re: '\$env:ComSpec\[(\s*\d{1,3}\s*,){2}'
        - Payload|re: '\*mdr\*\W\s*\)\.Name'
        - Payload|re: '\$VerbosePreference\.ToString\('
        - Payload|re: '\[String\]\s*\$VerbosePreference'
    condition: selection_payload
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 9ac8b09b-45de-4a07-9da1-0de8c09304a3 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
id: 9ac8b09b-45de-4a07-9da1-0de8c09304a3
related:
    - id: 779c8c12-0eb1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 25)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+powershell.+(?:\$\{?input\}?|noexit).+"'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 6bfb8fa7-b2e7-4f6c-8d9d-824e5d06ea9e license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher - PowerShell Module
id: 6bfb8fa7-b2e7-4f6c-8d9d-824e5d06ea9e
related:
    - id: 0adfbc14-0ed1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 24)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r)(?:\s|)"set\s[a-zA-Z]{3,6}.*(?:\{\d\}){1,}\\"\s+?-f(?:.*\)){1,}.*"'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id c72aca44-8d52-45ad-8f81-f96c4d3c755e license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin - PowerShell Module
id: c72aca44-8d52-45ad-8f81-f96c4d3c755e
related:
    - id: 86b896ba-ffa1-4fea-83e3-ee28a4c915c7
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task28)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: '(?i)(set).*&&\s?set.*(environment|invoke|\$?\{?input).*&&.*"'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip - PowerShell Module
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id ebdf49d8-b89c-46c9-8fdf-2c308406f6bd license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip - PowerShell Module
id: ebdf49d8-b89c-46c9-8fdf-2c308406f6bd
related:
    - id: db92dd33-a3ad-49cf-8c2c-608c3e30ace0
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task29)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection_4103:
        Payload|re: '(?i)echo.*clip.*&&.*(Clipboard|i`?n`?v`?o`?k`?e`?)'
    condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation - PowerShell
Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the following code block \u2014
status test author Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community id 1b9dc62e-6e9e-42a3-8990-94d7a10007f7 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation - PowerShell
id: 1b9dc62e-6e9e-42a3-8990-94d7a10007f7
status: test
description: Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the following code block \u2014
references:
    - https://github.com/danielbohannon/Invoke-Obfuscation/blob/f20e7f843edd0a3a7716736e9eddfa423395dd26/Out-ObfuscatedStringCommand.ps1#L873-L888
author: 'Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community'
date: 2019-11-08
modified: 2022-12-31
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_iex:
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\$PSHome\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$PSHome\['
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\$ShellId\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$ShellId\['
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\$env:Public\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$env:Public\['
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\$env:ComSpec\[(\s*\d{1,3}\s*,){2}'
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\*mdr\*\W\s*\)\.Name'
        - ScriptBlockText|re: '\$VerbosePreference\.ToString\('
    condition: selection_iex
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin - Powershell
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id 86b896ba-ffa1-4fea-83e3-ee28a4c915c7 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin - Powershell
id: 86b896ba-ffa1-4fea-83e3-ee28a4c915c7
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task28)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: '(?i)(set).*&&\s?set.*(environment|invoke|\$\{?input).*&&.*"'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Rundll32 - PowerShell
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Rundll32 in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id a5a30a6e-75ca-4233-8b8c-42e0f2037d3b license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Rundll32 - PowerShell
id: a5a30a6e-75ca-4233-8b8c-42e0f2037d3b
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Rundll32 in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-08
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - '&&'
            - 'rundll32'
            - 'shell32.dll'
            - 'shellexec_rundll'
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - 'value'
            - 'invoke'
            - 'comspec'
            - 'iex'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher - PowerShell
Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 0adfbc14-0ed1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher - PowerShell
id: 0adfbc14-0ed1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 24)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r)(?:\s|)"set\s[a-zA-Z]{3,6}.*(?:\{\d\}){1,}\\"\s+?-f(?:.*\)){1,}.*"'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation CLIP+ Launcher - PowerShell
Detects Obfuscated use of Clip.exe to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 73e67340-0d25-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation CLIP+ Launcher - PowerShell
id: 73e67340-0d25-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of Clip.exe to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 26)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+clip(?:\.exe)?.{0,4}&&.+clipboard]::\(\s\\"\{\d\}.+-f.+"'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip - Powershell
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id db92dd33-a3ad-49cf-8c2c-608c3e30ace0 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip - Powershell
id: db92dd33-a3ad-49cf-8c2c-608c3e30ace0
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task29)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2024-04-15
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: '(?i)echo.*clip.*&&.*(Clipboard|i`?n`?v`?o`?k`?e`?)'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION - PowerShell
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
status test author Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community id e54f5149-6ba3-49cf-b153-070d24679126 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION - PowerShell
id: e54f5149-6ba3-49cf-b153-070d24679126
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task27)
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: '(?i)&&set.*(\{\d\}){2,}\\"\s+?-f.*&&.*cmd.*/c' # FPs with |\/r
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id e55a5195-4724-480e-a77e-3ebe64bd3759 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell
id: e55a5195-4724-480e-a77e-3ebe64bd3759
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task31)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-08
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - 'set'
            - '&&'
            - 'mshta'
            - 'vbscript:createobject'
            - '.run'
            - '(window.close)'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - Powershell
Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 779c8c12-0eb1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - Powershell
id: 779c8c12-0eb1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 25)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+powershell.+(?:\$?\{?input\}?|noexit).+"'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Potential Winnti Dropper Activity
Detects files dropped by Winnti as described in RedMimicry Winnti playbook
status test author Alexander Rausch id 130c9e58-28ac-4f83-8574-0a4cc913b97e license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Potential Winnti Dropper Activity
id: 130c9e58-28ac-4f83-8574-0a4cc913b97e
status: test
description: Detects files dropped by Winnti as described in RedMimicry Winnti playbook
references:
    - https://redmimicry.com/posts/redmimicry-winnti/#dropper
author: Alexander Rausch
date: 2020-06-24
modified: 2023-01-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            - '\gthread-3.6.dll'
            - '\sigcmm-2.4.dll'
            - '\Windows\Temp\tmp.bat'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Suspicious Get-Variable.exe Creation
Get-Variable is a valid PowerShell cmdlet WindowsApps is by default in the path where PowerShell is executed. So when the Get-Variable command is issued on PowerShell execution, the system first looks for the Get-Variable executable in the path and executes the malicious binary instead of looking for the PowerShell cmdlet.
status test author frack113 id 0c3fac91-5627-46e8-a6a8-a0d7b9b8ae1b license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Suspicious Get-Variable.exe Creation
id: 0c3fac91-5627-46e8-a6a8-a0d7b9b8ae1b
status: test
description: |
    Get-Variable is a valid PowerShell cmdlet
    WindowsApps is by default in the path where PowerShell is executed.
    So when the Get-Variable command is issued on PowerShell execution, the system first looks for the Get-Variable executable in the path and executes the malicious binary instead of looking for the PowerShell cmdlet.
references:
    - https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-intelligence/2022/04/colibri-loader-combines-task-scheduler-and-powershell-in-clever-persistence-technique/
    - https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/465533/0/html
author: frack113
date: 2022-04-23
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1546
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith: 'Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Get-Variable.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Base64 Encoded PowerShell Command Detected
Detects usage of the "FromBase64String" function in the commandline which is used to decode a base64 encoded string
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) id e32d4572-9826-4738-b651-95fa63747e8a license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Base64 Encoded PowerShell Command Detected
id: e32d4572-9826-4738-b651-95fa63747e8a
status: test
description: Detects usage of the "FromBase64String" function in the commandline which is used to decode a base64 encoded string
references:
    - https://gist.github.com/Neo23x0/6af876ee72b51676c82a2db8d2cd3639
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2020-01-29
modified: 2023-01-26
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1140
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains: '::FromBase64String('
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Administrative script libraries
level: high
related high
Ping Hex IP
Detects a ping command that uses a hex encoded IP address
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) id 1a0d4aba-7668-4365-9ce4-6d79ab088dfd license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Ping Hex IP
id: 1a0d4aba-7668-4365-9ce4-6d79ab088dfd
status: test
description: Detects a ping command that uses a hex encoded IP address
references:
    - https://github.com/vysecurity/Aggressor-VYSEC/blob/0d61c80387b9432dab64b8b8a9fb52d20cfef80e/ping.cna
    - https://twitter.com/vysecurity/status/977198418354491392
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2018-03-23
modified: 2025-10-17
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1140
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\ping.exe'
        CommandLine|re: '0x[a-fA-F0-9]{8}'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely, because no sane admin pings IP addresses in a hexadecimal form
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher
Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
status test author Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community id 27aec9c9-dbb0-4939-8422-1742242471d0 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR+ Launcher
id: 27aec9c9-dbb0-4939-8422-1742242471d0
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of Environment Variables to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 24)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-15
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # Example 1: C:\winDoWs\SySTeM32\cmd.Exe /C"SET NOtI=Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString&& PowERshElL -NOl SET-iteM ( 'VAR' + 'i'+ 'A' + 'blE:Ao6' + 'I0') ( [TYpe](\"{2}{3}{0}{1}\"-F 'iRoN','mENT','e','nv') ) ; ${exECUtIONCOnTEXT}.\"IN`VO`KecOmMaND\".\"inVo`KES`crIPt\"( ( ( GEt-VAriAble ( 'a' + 'o6I0') -vaLU )::(\"{1}{4}{2}{3}{0}\" -f'e','gETenvIR','NtvaRIa','BL','ONme' ).Invoke(( \"{0}{1}\"-f'n','oti' ),( \"{0}{1}\" -f'pRoC','esS') )) )"
        # Example 2: cMD.exe /C "seT SlDb=Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString&& pOWErShell .(( ^&(\"{1}{0}{2}{3}\" -f 'eT-vaR','G','iab','lE' ) (\"{0}{1}\" -f '*m','DR*' ) ).\"na`ME\"[3,11,2]-JOIN'' ) ( ( ^&(\"{0}{1}\" -f'g','CI' ) (\"{0}{1}\" -f 'ENV',':SlDb' ) ).\"VA`luE\" ) "
        CommandLine|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r)(?:\s|)\"set\s[a-zA-Z]{3,6}.*(?:\{\d\}){1,}\\\"\s+?\-f(?:.*\)){1,}.*\"'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
PowerShell Base64 Encoded Reflective Assembly Load
Detects base64 encoded .NET reflective loading of Assembly
status test author Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), pH-T (Nextron Systems) id 62b7ccc9-23b4-471e-aa15-6da3663c4d59 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: PowerShell Base64 Encoded Reflective Assembly Load
id: 62b7ccc9-23b4-471e-aa15-6da3663c4d59
related:
    - id: 9c0295ce-d60d-40bd-bd74-84673b7592b1
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects base64 encoded .NET reflective loading of Assembly
references:
    - https://github.com/Neo23x0/Raccine/blob/20a569fa21625086433dcce8bb2765d0ea08dcb6/yara/mal_revil.yar
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/05/09/seo-poisoning-a-gootloader-story/
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), pH-T (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-01
modified: 2023-01-30
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.t1620
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # [Reflection.Assembly]::Load(
            - 'WwBSAGUAZgBsAGUAYwB0AGkAbwBuAC4AQQBzAHMAZQBtAGIAbAB5AF0AOgA6AEwAbwBhAGQAKA'
            - 'sAUgBlAGYAbABlAGMAdABpAG8AbgAuAEEAcwBzAGUAbQBiAGwAeQBdADoAOgBMAG8AYQBkACgA'
            - 'bAFIAZQBmAGwAZQBjAHQAaQBvAG4ALgBBAHMAcwBlAG0AYgBsAHkAXQA6ADoATABvAGEAZAAoA'
            # [reflection.assembly]::("Load")
            - 'AFsAcgBlAGYAbABlAGMAdABpAG8AbgAuAGEAcwBzAGUAbQBiAGwAeQBdADoAOgAoACIATABvAGEAZAAiAC'
            - 'BbAHIAZQBmAGwAZQBjAHQAaQBvAG4ALgBhAHMAcwBlAG0AYgBsAHkAXQA6ADoAKAAiAEwAbwBhAGQAIgAp'
            - 'AWwByAGUAZgBsAGUAYwB0AGkAbwBuAC4AYQBzAHMAZQBtAGIAbAB5AF0AOgA6ACgAIgBMAG8AYQBkACIAK'
            # [Reflection.Assembly]::("Load")
            - 'WwBSAGUAZgBsAGUAYwB0AGkAbwBuAC4AQQBzAHMAZQBtAGIAbAB5AF0AOgA6ACgAIgBMAG8AYQBkACIAKQ'
            - 'sAUgBlAGYAbABlAGMAdABpAG8AbgAuAEEAcwBzAGUAbQBiAGwAeQBdADoAOgAoACIATABvAGEAZAAiACkA'
            - 'bAFIAZQBmAGwAZQBjAHQAaQBvAG4ALgBBAHMAcwBlAG0AYgBsAHkAXQA6ADoAKAAiAEwAbwBhAGQAIgApA'
            # [reflection.assembly]::Load(
            - 'WwByAGUAZgBsAGUAYwB0AGkAbwBuAC4AYQBzAHMAZQBtAGIAbAB5AF0AOgA6AEwAbwBhAGQAKA'
            - 'sAcgBlAGYAbABlAGMAdABpAG8AbgAuAGEAcwBzAGUAbQBiAGwAeQBdADoAOgBMAG8AYQBkACgA'
            - 'bAHIAZQBmAGwAZQBjAHQAaQBvAG4ALgBhAHMAcwBlAG0AYgBsAHkAXQA6ADoATABvAGEAZAAoA'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
related high
Suspicious File Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64 where the extensions of the file is suspicious
status test author Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) id ea0cdc3e-2239-4f26-a947-4e8f8224e464 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Suspicious File Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
id: ea0cdc3e-2239-4f26-a947-4e8f8224e464
related:
    - id: e62a9f0c-ca1e-46b2-85d5-a6da77f86d1a
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64 where the extensions of the file is suspicious
references:
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/35c22725a92d5cb1016b09421c0a6cdbfd860fd4778b3313669b057d4a131cb7/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/427616528b7dbc4a6057ac89eb174a3a90f7abcf3f34e5a359b7a910d82f7a72/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/34de4c8beded481a4084a1fd77855c3e977e8ac643e5c5842d0f15f7f9b9086f/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/4abe1395a09fda06d897a9c4eb247278c1b6cddda5d126ce5b3f4f499e3b8fa2/behavior
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-15
modified: 2024-03-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '-encode'
    selection_extension:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '.acl'
            - '.bat'
            - '.doc'
            - '.gif'
            - '.jpeg'
            - '.jpg'
            - '.mp3'
            - '.pdf'
            - '.png'
            - '.ppt'
            - '.tmp'
            - '.xls'
            - '.xml'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certutil_encode_susp_extensions/info.yml
related high
File Decoded From Base64/Hex Via Certutil.EXE
Detects the execution of certutil with either the "decode" or "decodehex" flags to decode base64 or hex encoded files. This can be abused by attackers to decode an encoded payload before execution
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community id cc9cbe82-7bc0-4ef5-bc23-bbfb83947be7 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: File Decoded From Base64/Hex Via Certutil.EXE
id: cc9cbe82-7bc0-4ef5-bc23-bbfb83947be7
status: test
description: Detects the execution of certutil with either the "decode" or "decodehex" flags to decode base64 or hex encoded files. This can be abused by attackers to decode an encoded payload before execution
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
    - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-babyshark-malware-targets-u-s-national-security-think-tanks/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/04/13/compromised-exchange-server-hosting-cryptojacker-targeting-other-exchange-servers/
    - https://twitter.com/JohnLaTwC/status/835149808817991680
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/pki/basic-crl-checking-with-certutil
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certutil/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community
date: 2023-02-15
modified: 2025-06-04
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash:
            - '-decode ' # Decode Base64
            - '-decodehex ' # Decode Hex
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certutil_decode/info.yml
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation
Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the following code block
status test author Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community id 4bf943c6-5146-4273-98dd-e958fd1e3abf license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Obfuscated IEX Invocation
id: 4bf943c6-5146-4273-98dd-e958fd1e3abf
status: test
description: Detects all variations of obfuscated powershell IEX invocation code generated by Invoke-Obfuscation framework from the following code block
references:
    - https://github.com/danielbohannon/Invoke-Obfuscation/blob/f20e7f843edd0a3a7716736e9eddfa423395dd26/Out-ObfuscatedStringCommand.ps1#L873-L888
author: 'Daniel Bohannon (@Mandiant/@FireEye), oscd.community'
date: 2019-11-08
modified: 2026-03-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - CommandLine|re: '\$PSHome\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$PSHome\['
        - CommandLine|re: '\$ShellId\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$ShellId\['
        - CommandLine|re: '\$env:Public\[\s*\d{1,3}\s*\]\s*\+\s*\$env:Public\['
        - CommandLine|re: '\$env:ComSpec\[(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*,){2}'
        - CommandLine|re: '\*mdr\*\W\s*\)\.Name'
        - CommandLine|re: '\$VerbosePreference\.ToString\('
        - CommandLine|re: '\[String\]\s*\$VerbosePreference'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id e1561947-b4e3-4a74-9bdd-83baed21bdb5 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use Clip
id: e1561947-b4e3-4a74-9bdd-83baed21bdb5
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use Clip.exe in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task29)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2026-03-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # Example 1: C:\WINdoWS\sySteM32\CMd /c " ECho\Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString|Clip.Exe&&C:\WINdoWS\sySteM32\CMd /c pOWerSheLl -STa . ( \"{2}{0}{1}\"-f'dd-',(\"{0}{1}\" -f 'T','ype' ),'A' ) -Assembly ( \"{4}{1}{3}{0}{2}\"-f (\"{0}{1}\" -f 'nd','ow'),( \"{1}{0}\"-f'.W','stem' ),( \"{2}{1}{0}\" -f 'rms','Fo','s.'),'i','Sy') ; ${exeCUtIOnCONTeXT}.\"INV`oKECOM`m`ANd\".\"INV`ok`ESCriPT\"( ( [sYSteM.wiNDoWS.forMs.ClIPboaRD]::( \"{2}{0}{1}\" -f'Ex','t',(\"{0}{1}\" -f'Get','t' ) ).\"iNvo`Ke\"( )) ) ; [System.Windows.Forms.Clipboard]::(\"{1}{0}\" -f 'ar','Cle' ).\"in`V`oKE\"( )"
        # Example 2: C:\WINDowS\sYsTEM32\CmD.eXE /C" echo\Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString| C:\WIndOWs\SYSteM32\CLip &&C:\WINDowS\sYsTEM32\CmD.eXE /C POWERSHeLL -sT -noL [Void][System.Reflection.Assembly]::( \"{0}{3}{4}{1}{2}\" -f( \"{0}{1}\"-f'Lo','adW' ),( \"{0}{1}\"-f 'Par','t'),( \"{0}{1}{2}\"-f 'ial','N','ame'),'it','h' ).\"in`VO`KE\"( ( \"{3}{1}{4}{5}{2}{0}\"-f'rms','ystem.Windo','Fo','S','w','s.' )) ; ( [wIndows.fOrms.cLIPBOArD]::( \"{1}{0}\"-f'T',( \"{1}{0}\" -f'tEX','gET' )).\"i`Nvoke\"( ) ) ^^^| ^^^& ( ( ^^^& ( \"{2}{1}{0}\"-f 'e',( \"{2}{1}{0}\"-f'IABl','aR','v' ),( \"{0}{1}\"-f'Get','-' ) ) ( \"{1}{0}\"-f'*','*MDr' )).\"n`Ame\"[3,11,2]-jOin'') ; [Windows.Forms.Clipboard]::( \"{0}{1}\" -f (\"{1}{0}\"-f'tT','Se' ),'ext').\"in`VoKe\"(' ' )"
        CommandLine|re: '(?i)echo.*clip.*&&.*(?:Clipboard|i`?n`?v`?o`?k`?e`?)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Suspicious Encoded And Obfuscated Reflection Assembly Load Function Call
Detects suspicious base64 encoded and obfuscated "LOAD" keyword used in .NET "reflection.assembly"
status test author pH-T (Nextron Systems) id 9c0295ce-d60d-40bd-bd74-84673b7592b1 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Suspicious Encoded And Obfuscated Reflection Assembly Load Function Call
id: 9c0295ce-d60d-40bd-bd74-84673b7592b1
related:
    - id: 62b7ccc9-23b4-471e-aa15-6da3663c4d59
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects suspicious base64 encoded and obfuscated "LOAD" keyword used in .NET "reflection.assembly"
references:
    - https://github.com/Neo23x0/Raccine/blob/20a569fa21625086433dcce8bb2765d0ea08dcb6/yara/mal_revil.yar
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/05/09/seo-poisoning-a-gootloader-story/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.appdomain.load?view=net-7.0
author: pH-T (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-01
modified: 2023-04-06
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # ::("L"+"oad")
            - 'OgA6ACgAIgBMACIAKwAiAG8AYQBkACIAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACIATAAiACsAIgBvAGEAZAAiACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAiAEwAIgArACIAbwBhAGQAIgApA'
            # ::("Lo"+"ad")
            - 'OgA6ACgAIgBMAG8AIgArACIAYQBkACIAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACIATABvACIAKwAiAGEAZAAiACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAiAEwAbwAiACsAIgBhAGQAIgApA'
            # ::("Loa"+"d")
            - 'OgA6ACgAIgBMAG8AYQAiACsAIgBkACIAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACIATABvAGEAIgArACIAZAAiACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAiAEwAbwBhACIAKwAiAGQAIgApA'
            # ::('L'+'oad')
            - 'OgA6ACgAJwBMACcAKwAnAG8AYQBkACcAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACcATAAnACsAJwBvAGEAZAAnACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAnAEwAJwArACcAbwBhAGQAJwApA'
            # ::('Lo'+'ad')
            - 'OgA6ACgAJwBMAG8AJwArACcAYQBkACcAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACcATABvACcAKwAnAGEAZAAnACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAnAEwAbwAnACsAJwBhAGQAJwApA'
            # ::('Loa'+'d')
            - 'OgA6ACgAJwBMAG8AYQAnACsAJwBkACcAKQ'
            - 'oAOgAoACcATABvAGEAJwArACcAZAAnACkA'
            - '6ADoAKAAnAEwAbwBhACcAKwAnAGQAJwApA'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id ac20ae82-8758-4f38-958e-b44a3140ca88 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA
id: ac20ae82-8758-4f38-958e-b44a3140ca88
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009   # (Task31)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-08
modified: 2022-03-08
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'set'
            - '&&'
            - 'mshta'
            - 'vbscript:createobject'
            - '.run'
            - '(window.close)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
File In Suspicious Location Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64 where the files are located in potentially suspicious locations
status test author Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) id 82a6714f-4899-4f16-9c1e-9a333544d4c3 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: File In Suspicious Location Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
id: 82a6714f-4899-4f16-9c1e-9a333544d4c3
related:
    - id: e62a9f0c-ca1e-46b2-85d5-a6da77f86d1a
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64 where the files are located in potentially suspicious locations
references:
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/35c22725a92d5cb1016b09421c0a6cdbfd860fd4778b3313669b057d4a131cb7/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/427616528b7dbc4a6057ac89eb174a3a90f7abcf3f34e5a359b7a910d82f7a72/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/34de4c8beded481a4084a1fd77855c3e977e8ac643e5c5842d0f15f7f9b9086f/behavior
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/4abe1395a09fda06d897a9c4eb247278c1b6cddda5d126ce5b3f4f499e3b8fa2/behavior
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-15
modified: 2024-03-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '-encode'
    selection_extension:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Note: Add more suspicious locations to increase coverage
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
            - '\Desktop\'
            - '\Local\Temp\'
            - '\PerfLogs\'
            - '\Users\Public\'
            - '\Windows\Temp\'
            - '$Recycle.Bin'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certutil_encode_susp_location/info.yml
related high
Potential PowerShell Command Line Obfuscation
Detects the PowerShell command lines with special characters
status test author Teymur Kheirkhabarov (idea), Vasiliy Burov (rule), oscd.community, Tim Shelton (fp) id d7bcd677-645d-4691-a8d4-7a5602b780d1 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Potential PowerShell Command Line Obfuscation
id: d7bcd677-645d-4691-a8d4-7a5602b780d1
status: test
description: Detects the PowerShell command lines with special characters
references:
    - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse?slide=64
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov (idea), Vasiliy Burov (rule), oscd.community, Tim Shelton (fp)
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-15
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_re:
        # TODO: Optimize for PySIGMA
        - CommandLine|re: '\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+.*\+'
        - CommandLine|re: '\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{.*\{'
        - CommandLine|re: '\^.*\^.*\^.*\^.*\^'
        - CommandLine|re: '`.*`.*`.*`.*`'
    filter_optional_amazonSSM:
        ParentImage: C:\Program Files\Amazon\SSM\ssm-document-worker.exe
    filter_optional_defender_atp:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'new EventSource("Microsoft.Windows.Sense.Client.Management"'
            - 'public static extern bool InstallELAMCertificateInfo(SafeFileHandle handle);'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Amazon SSM Document Worker
    - Windows Defender ATP
level: high
related high
PowerShell Base64 Encoded WMI Classes
Detects calls to base64 encoded WMI class such as "Win32_ShadowCopy", "Win32_ScheduledJob", etc.
status test author Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) id 1816994b-42e1-4fb1-afd2-134d88184f71 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: PowerShell Base64 Encoded WMI Classes
id: 1816994b-42e1-4fb1-afd2-134d88184f71
related:
    - id: 47688f1b-9f51-4656-b013-3cc49a166a36
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects calls to base64 encoded WMI class such as "Win32_ShadowCopy", "Win32_ScheduledJob", etc.
references:
    - https://github.com/Neo23x0/Raccine/blob/20a569fa21625086433dcce8bb2765d0ea08dcb6/yara/mal_revil.yar
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-01-30
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_cli_shadowcopy:
        # Win32_ShadowCopy
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VwBpAG4AMwAyAF8AUwBoAGEAZABvAHcAYwBvAHAAeQ'
            - 'cAaQBuADMAMgBfAFMAaABhAGQAbwB3AGMAbwBwAHkA'
            - 'XAGkAbgAzADIAXwBTAGgAYQBkAG8AdwBjAG8AcAB5A'
            - 'V2luMzJfU2hhZG93Y29we'
            - 'dpbjMyX1NoYWRvd2NvcH'
            - 'XaW4zMl9TaGFkb3djb3B5'
    selection_cli_scheduledJob:
        # Win32_ScheduledJob
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VwBpAG4AMwAyAF8AUwBjAGgAZQBkAHUAbABlAGQASgBvAGIA'
            - 'cAaQBuADMAMgBfAFMAYwBoAGUAZAB1AGwAZQBkAEoAbwBiA'
            - 'XAGkAbgAzADIAXwBTAGMAaABlAGQAdQBsAGUAZABKAG8AYg'
            - 'V2luMzJfU2NoZWR1bGVkSm9i'
            - 'dpbjMyX1NjaGVkdWxlZEpvY'
            - 'XaW4zMl9TY2hlZHVsZWRKb2'
    selection_cli_process:
        # Win32_Process
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VwBpAG4AMwAyAF8AUAByAG8AYwBlAHMAcw'
            - 'cAaQBuADMAMgBfAFAAcgBvAGMAZQBzAHMA'
            - 'XAGkAbgAzADIAXwBQAHIAbwBjAGUAcwBzA'
            - 'V2luMzJfUHJvY2Vzc'
            - 'dpbjMyX1Byb2Nlc3'
            - 'XaW4zMl9Qcm9jZXNz'
    selection_cli_useraccount:
        # Win32_UserAccount
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VwBpAG4AMwAyAF8AVQBzAGUAcgBBAGMAYwBvAHUAbgB0A'
            - 'cAaQBuADMAMgBfAFUAcwBlAHIAQQBjAGMAbwB1AG4AdA'
            - 'XAGkAbgAzADIAXwBVAHMAZQByAEEAYwBjAG8AdQBuAHQA'
            - 'V2luMzJfVXNlckFjY291bn'
            - 'dpbjMyX1VzZXJBY2NvdW50'
            - 'XaW4zMl9Vc2VyQWNjb3Vud'
    selection_cli_loggedonuser:
        # Win32_LoggedOnUser
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VwBpAG4AMwAyAF8ATABvAGcAZwBlAGQATwBuAFUAcwBlAHIA'
            - 'cAaQBuADMAMgBfAEwAbwBnAGcAZQBkAE8AbgBVAHMAZQByA'
            - 'XAGkAbgAzADIAXwBMAG8AZwBnAGUAZABPAG4AVQBzAGUAcg'
            - 'V2luMzJfTG9nZ2VkT25Vc2Vy'
            - 'dpbjMyX0xvZ2dlZE9uVXNlc'
            - 'XaW4zMl9Mb2dnZWRPblVzZX'
    condition: selection_img and 1 of selection_cli_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Potential PowerShell Obfuscation Via WCHAR/CHAR
Detects suspicious encoded character syntax often used for defense evasion
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) id e312efd0-35a1-407f-8439-b8d434b438a6 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Potential PowerShell Obfuscation Via WCHAR/CHAR
id: e312efd0-35a1-407f-8439-b8d434b438a6
status: test
description: Detects suspicious encoded character syntax often used for defense evasion
references:
    - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1281103918693482496
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2020-07-09
modified: 2025-03-03
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '[char]0x'
            - '(WCHAR)0x'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Suspicious File Downloaded From Direct IP Via Certutil.EXE
Detects the execution of certutil with certain flags that allow the utility to download files from direct IPs.
status test author Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) id 13e6fe51-d478-4c7e-b0f2-6da9b400a829 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Suspicious File Downloaded From Direct IP Via Certutil.EXE
id: 13e6fe51-d478-4c7e-b0f2-6da9b400a829
related:
    - id: 19b08b1c-861d-4e75-a1ef-ea0c1baf202b # Direct IP download
      type: similar
    - id: 42a5f1e7-9603-4f6d-97ae-3f37d130d794 # File sharing download
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects the execution of certutil with certain flags that allow the utility to download files from direct IPs.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
    - https://forensicitguy.github.io/agenttesla-vba-certutil-download/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/04/13/compromised-exchange-server-hosting-cryptojacker-targeting-other-exchange-servers/
    - https://twitter.com/egre55/status/1087685529016193025
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certutil/
    - https://twitter.com/_JohnHammond/status/1708910264261980634
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/certutil-one-more-gui-lolbin
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-02-15
modified: 2025-12-01
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
    selection_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'urlcache '
            - 'verifyctl '
            - 'URL '
    selection_http:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '://1'
            - '://2'
            - '://3'
            - '://4'
            - '://5'
            - '://6'
            - '://7'
            - '://8'
            - '://9'
    # filter_local_ips:
    #     # Note: Uncomment this filter if you want to exclude local IPs
    #     CommandLine|contains:
    #         - '://10.' # 10.0.0.0/8
    #         - '://192.168.' # 192.168.0.0/16
    #         - '://172.16.' # 172.16.0.0/12
    #         - '://172.17.'
    #         - '://172.18.'
    #         - '://172.19.'
    #         - '://172.20.'
    #         - '://172.21.'
    #         - '://172.22.'
    #         - '://172.23.'
    #         - '://172.24.'
    #         - '://172.25.'
    #         - '://172.26.'
    #         - '://172.27.'
    #         - '://172.28.'
    #         - '://172.29.'
    #         - '://172.30.'
    #         - '://172.31.'
    #         - '://127.' # 127.0.0.0/8
    #         - '://169.254.' # 169.254.0.0/16
    filter_main_seven_zip:
        CommandLine|contains: '://7-' # For https://7-zip.org/
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certutil_download_direct_ip/info.yml
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
status test author Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community id 9c14c9fa-1a63-4a64-8e57-d19280559490 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Stdin
id: 9c14c9fa-1a63-4a64-8e57-d19280559490
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via Stdin in Scripts
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task28)
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2026-03-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|re: '(?i)(?:set).*&&\s?set.*(?:environment|invoke|\$\{?input).*&&.*"'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION
Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
status test author Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community id e9f55347-2928-4c06-88e5-1a7f8169942e license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Invoke-Obfuscation VAR++ LAUNCHER OBFUSCATION
id: e9f55347-2928-4c06-88e5-1a7f8169942e
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated Powershell via VAR++ LAUNCHER
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009 # (Task27)
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2022-11-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # CommandLine|re: '(?i)&&set.*(\{\d\}){2,}\\\"\s+?\-f.*&&.*cmd.*\/c' # FPs with |\/r
        # Example 1: CMD /C"sET KUR=Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString&&Set MxI=C:\wINDowS\sYsWow64\winDOWspoWERSheLl\V1.0\PowerShelL.EXe ${ExEcut`IoN`cON`TExT}.\"invo`kEcoMm`A`ND\".( \"{2}{1}{0}\" -f 'pt','EscRi','INvOk' ).Invoke( ( .( \"{0}{1}\" -f'D','IR' ) ( \"{0}{1}\"-f'ENV:kU','R')).\"vAl`Ue\" )&& CMD /C%mXI%"
        # Example 2: c:\WiNDOWS\sYSTEm32\CmD.exE /C "sEt DeJLz=Invoke-Expression (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString&&set yBKM=PoWERShelL -noeX ^^^&(\"{2}{0}{1}\"-f '-ItE','m','seT') ( 'V' + 'a'+ 'RiAblE:z8J' +'U2' + 'l' ) ([TYpE]( \"{2}{3}{0}{1}\"-f 'e','NT','e','NViRONM' ) ) ; ^^^& ( ( [sTrIng]${VE`Rbo`SepReFER`Ence})[1,3] + 'X'-joIN'')( ( (.('gI') ('V' + 'a' + 'RIAbLe:z8j' + 'u2' +'l' ) ).vALUe::( \"{2}{5}{0}{1}{6}{4}{3}\" -f 'IRo','Nm','GETE','ABlE','I','nv','enTVAr').Invoke(( \"{0}{1}\"-f'd','ejLz' ),( \"{1}{2}{0}\"-f'cEss','P','RO') )) )&& c:\WiNDOWS\sYSTEm32\CmD.exE /C %ybkm%"
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '&&set'
            - 'cmd'
            - '/c'
            - '-f'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '{0}'
            - '{1}'
            - '{2}'
            - '{3}'
            - '{4}'
            - '{5}'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Renamed AutoIt Execution
Detects the execution of a renamed AutoIt2.exe or AutoIt3.exe. AutoIt is a scripting language and automation tool for Windows systems. While primarily used for legitimate automation tasks, it can be misused in cyber attacks. Attackers can leverage AutoIt to create and distribute malware, including keyloggers, spyware, and botnets. A renamed AutoIt executable is particularly suspicious.
status test author Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) id f4264e47-f522-4c38-a420-04525d5b880f license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Renamed AutoIt Execution
id: f4264e47-f522-4c38-a420-04525d5b880f
status: test
description: |
    Detects the execution of a renamed AutoIt2.exe or AutoIt3.exe.
    AutoIt is a scripting language and automation tool for Windows systems. While primarily used for legitimate automation tasks, it can be misused in cyber attacks.
    Attackers can leverage AutoIt to create and distribute malware, including keyloggers, spyware, and botnets. A renamed AutoIt executable is particularly suspicious.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/malmoeb/status/1665463817130725378?s=12&t=C0_T_re0wRP_NfKa27Xw9w
    - https://www.autoitscript.com/site/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-06-04
modified: 2024-11-23
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_1:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' /AutoIt3ExecuteScript'
            - ' /ErrorStdOut'
    selection_2:
        Hashes|contains:
            - 'IMPHASH=FDC554B3A8683918D731685855683DDF'  # AutoIt v2 - doesn't cover all binaries
            - 'IMPHASH=CD30A61B60B3D60CECDB034C8C83C290'  # AutoIt v2 - doesn't cover all binaries
            - 'IMPHASH=F8A00C72F2D667D2EDBB234D0C0AE000'  # AutoIt v3 - doesn't cover all binaries
    selection_3:
        OriginalFileName:
            - 'AutoIt3.exe'
            - 'AutoIt2.exe'
            - 'AutoIt.exe'
    filter_main_legit_name:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\AutoIt.exe'
            - '\AutoIt2.exe'
            - '\AutoIt3_x64.exe'
            - '\AutoIt3.exe'
    condition: 1 of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
related high
Potential PowerShell Obfuscation Via Reversed Commands
Detects the presence of reversed PowerShell commands in the CommandLine. This is often used as a method of obfuscation by attackers
status test author Teymur Kheirkhabarov (idea), Vasiliy Burov (rule), oscd.community, Tim Shelton id b6b49cd1-34d6-4ead-b1bf-176e9edba9a4 license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: Potential PowerShell Obfuscation Via Reversed Commands
id: b6b49cd1-34d6-4ead-b1bf-176e9edba9a4
status: test
description: Detects the presence of reversed PowerShell commands in the CommandLine. This is often used as a method of obfuscation by attackers
references:
    - https://2019.offzone.moscow/ru/report/hunting-for-powershell-abuses/
    - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse?slide=66
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov (idea), Vasiliy Burov (rule), oscd.community, Tim Shelton
date: 2020-10-11
modified: 2023-05-31
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'hctac'
            - 'kaerb'
            - 'dnammoc'
            - 'ekovn' # Also covers 'ekovni'
            - 'eliFd'
            - 'rahc'
            - 'etirw'
            - 'golon'
            - 'tninon'
            - 'eddih'
            - 'tpircS'
            - 'ssecorp'
            - 'llehsrewop'
            - 'esnopser'
            - 'daolnwod'
            - 'tneilCbeW'
            - 'tneilc'
            - 'ptth'
            - 'elifotevas'
            - '46esab'
            - 'htaPpmeTteG'
            - 'tcejbO'
            - 'maerts'
            - 'hcaerof'
            - 'retupmoc'
    filter_main_encoded_keyword:
        # We exclude usage of encoded commands as they might generate FPs as shown here:
        #   https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/pull/2720
        #   https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/4270
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' -EncodedCommand '
            - ' -enc '
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
related high
PowerShell Base64 Encoded Invoke Keyword
Detects UTF-8 and UTF-16 Base64 encoded powershell 'Invoke-' calls
status test author pH-T (Nextron Systems), Harjot Singh, @cyb3rjy0t id 6385697e-9f1b-40bd-8817-f4a91f40508e license Sigma · DRL-1.1
view Sigma YAML 
title: PowerShell Base64 Encoded Invoke Keyword
id: 6385697e-9f1b-40bd-8817-f4a91f40508e
related:
    - id: fd6e2919-3936-40c9-99db-0aa922c356f7
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects UTF-8 and UTF-16 Base64 encoded powershell 'Invoke-' calls
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/05/09/seo-poisoning-a-gootloader-story/
author: pH-T (Nextron Systems), Harjot Singh, @cyb3rjy0t
date: 2022-05-20
modified: 2023-04-06
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1027
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_cli_enc:
        CommandLine|contains: ' -e'
    selection_cli_invoke:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Invoke-
            # UTF-16LE
            - 'SQBuAHYAbwBrAGUALQ'
            - 'kAbgB2AG8AawBlAC0A'
            - 'JAG4AdgBvAGsAZQAtA'
            # UTF-8
            - 'SW52b2tlL'
            - 'ludm9rZS'
            - 'JbnZva2Ut'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
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