title: Potential Remote PowerShell Session Initiated
id: c539afac-c12a-46ed-b1bd-5a5567c9f045
status: test
description: |
    Detects a process that initiated a network connection over ports 5985 or 5986 from a non-network service account.
    This could potentially indicates a remote PowerShell connection.
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-09-12
modified: 2024-02-02
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    category: network_connection
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        DestinationPort:
            - 5985
            - 5986
        Initiated: 'true' # only matches of the initiating system can be evaluated
        SourceIsIpv6: 'false'
    filter_main_service_users:
        - User|contains: # covers many language settings for Network Service. Please expand
              - 'NETWORK SERVICE'
              - 'NETZWERKDIENST'
              - 'SERVICIO DE RED'
              - 'SERVIZIO DI RETE'
        - User|contains|all:
              - 'SERVICE R'
              - 'SEAU'
    filter_main_localhost:
        SourceIp:
            - '::1'
            - '127.0.0.1'
        DestinationIp:
            - '::1'
            - '127.0.0.1'
    filter_optional_avast:
        Image:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Avast Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of remote PowerShell, e.g. remote administration and monitoring.
    - Network Service user name of a not-covered localization
level: high

title: Remote LSASS Process Access Through Windows Remote Management
id: aa35a627-33fb-4d04-a165-d33b4afca3e8
status: stable
description: Detects remote access to the LSASS process via WinRM. This could be a sign of credential dumping from tools like mimikatz.
references:
    - https://pentestlab.blog/2018/05/15/lateral-movement-winrm/
author: Patryk Prauze - ING Tech
date: 2019-05-20
modified: 2023-11-29
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
    - attack.s0002
logsource:
    category: process_access
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetImage|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
        SourceImage|endswith: ':\Windows\system32\wsmprovhost.exe'
    filter_main_access:
        GrantedAccess: '0x80000000'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Remote PowerShell Session (PS Module)
id: 96b9f619-aa91-478f-bacb-c3e50f8df575
status: test
description: Detects remote PowerShell sessions
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g, Tim Shelton
date: 2019-08-10
modified: 2023-01-20
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection:
        ContextInfo|contains|all:
            - ' = ServerRemoteHost ' #  HostName: 'ServerRemoteHost'  french : Nom d’hôte =
            - 'wsmprovhost.exe'      #  HostApplication|contains: 'wsmprovhost.exe' french  Application hôte =
    filter_pwsh_archive:
        ContextInfo|contains: '\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive\Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive.psm1'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use remote PowerShell sessions
level: high

title: Winrs Local Command Execution
id: bcfece3d-56fe-4545-9931-3b8e92927db1
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the execution of Winrs.exe where it is used to execute commands locally.
    Commands executed this way are launched under Winrshost.exe and can represent proxy execution used for defense evasion or lateral movement.
references:
    - https://cardinalops.com/blog/living-off-winrm-abusing-complexity-in-remote-management/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/winrs
author: Liran Ravich, Nasreddine Bencherchali
date: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1021.006
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        # Note: Example of command to simulate (winrm needs to be enabled): "c:\Windows\System32\winrs.exe" calc.exe
        - Image|endswith: '\winrs.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'winrs.exe'
    selection_local_ip:
        CommandLine|contains|windash:
            - '/r:localhost'
            - '/r:127.0.0.1'
            - '/r:[::1]'
            - '/remote:localhost'
            - '/remote:127.0.0.1'
            - '/remote:[::1]'
    filter_main_remote:
        CommandLine|contains|windash:
            - "/r:"
            - "/remote:"
    condition: all of selection_* or (selection_img and not 1 of filter_main_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Enable Windows Remote Management
id: 991a9744-f2f0-44f2-bd33-9092eba17dc3
status: test
description: Adversaries may use Valid Accounts to interact with remote systems using Windows Remote Management (WinRM). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.006/T1021.006.md#atomic-test-1---enable-windows-remote-management
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/enable-psremoting?view=powershell-7.2
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_cmdlet:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: 'Enable-PSRemoting '
    condition: selection_cmdlet
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate script
level: medium

title: Execute Invoke-command on Remote Host
id: 7b836d7f-179c-4ba4-90a7-a7e60afb48e6
status: test
description: Adversaries may use Valid Accounts to interact with remote systems using Windows Remote Management (WinRM). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.006/T1021.006.md#atomic-test-2---invoke-command
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/invoke-command?view=powershell-7.4
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_cmdlet:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - 'invoke-command '
            - ' -ComputerName '
    condition: selection_cmdlet
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate script
level: medium

title: HackTool - WinRM Access Via Evil-WinRM
id: a197e378-d31b-41c0-9635-cfdf1c1bb423
status: test
description: Adversaries may use Valid Accounts to log into a computer using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.006/T1021.006.md#atomic-test-3---winrm-access-with-evil-winrm
    - https://github.com/Hackplayers/evil-winrm
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
modified: 2023-02-13
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\ruby.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '-i '
            - '-u '
            - '-p '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Potential Lateral Movement via Windows Remote Shell
id: 79df3f68-dccb-48e9-9171-b75cbc37c51d
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects a child process spawned by 'winrshost.exe', which suggests remote command execution through Windows Remote Shell (WinRs) and may indicate potential lateral movement activity.
references:
    - https://cardinalops.com/blog/living-off-winrm-abusing-complexity-in-remote-management/
    - https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/lateral-movement/winrs-for-lateral-movement
author: Liran Ravich
date: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # Note: Example of command to simulate (winrm needs to be enabled): "c:\Windows\System32\winrs.exe" powershell
        ParentImage|endswith: '\winrshost.exe'
    filter_main_conhost:
        Image: 'C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of WinRM within the organization
level: medium

title: Remote PowerShell Session Host Process (WinRM)
id: 734f8d9b-42b8-41b2-bcf5-abaf49d5a3c8
status: test
description: Detects remote PowerShell sections by monitoring for wsmprovhost (WinRM host process) as a parent or child process (sign of an active PowerShell remote session).
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-09-12
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\wsmprovhost.exe'
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\wsmprovhost.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of remote Powershell, e.g. for monitoring purposes.
level: medium

title: Remote PowerShell Session (PS Classic)
id: 60167e5c-84b2-4c95-a7ac-86281f27c445
related:
    - id: 96b9f619-aa91-478f-bacb-c3e50f8df575
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects remote PowerShell sessions
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-08-10
modified: 2024-01-03
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_classic_start
detection:
    selection:
        Data|contains|all:
            - 'HostName=ServerRemoteHost'
            - 'wsmprovhost.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use remote PowerShell sessions
# Note: Increase the level to "medium" in environments that do not leverage PowerShell remoting
level: low