title: Potential Manage-bde.wsf Abuse To Proxy Execution
id: c363385c-f75d-4753-a108-c1a8e28bdbda
status: test
description: Detects potential abuse of the "manage-bde.wsf" script as a LOLBIN to proxy execution
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/Manage-bde/
    - https://gist.github.com/bohops/735edb7494fe1bd1010d67823842b712
    - https://twitter.com/bohops/status/980659399495741441
    - https://twitter.com/JohnLaTwC/status/1223292479270600706
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1216/T1216.md
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2023-02-03
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_wscript_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wscript.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wscript.exe'
    selection_wscript_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'manage-bde.wsf'
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains: 'manage-bde.wsf'
    selection_filter_cmd:
        Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
    condition: all of selection_wscript_* or (selection_parent and not selection_filter_cmd)
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Suspicious CustomShellHost Execution
id: 84b14121-9d14-416e-800b-f3b829c5a14d
status: test
description: |
    Detects the execution of CustomShellHost.exe where the child isn't located in 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe'. CustomShellHost is a known LOLBin that can be abused by attackers for defense evasion techniques.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/180
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/CustomShellHost/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-19
modified: 2025-10-29
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\CustomShellHost.exe'
    filter_main_explorer:
        Image: 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - False positives are unlikely, investigate matches carefully.
level: high

title: AWL Bypass with Winrm.vbs and Malicious WsmPty.xsl/WsmTxt.xsl
id: 074e0ded-6ced-4ebd-8b4d-53f55908119d
status: test
description: Detects execution of attacker-controlled WsmPty.xsl or WsmTxt.xsl via winrm.vbs and copied cscript.exe (can be renamed)
references:
    - https://posts.specterops.io/application-whitelisting-bypass-and-arbitrary-unsigned-code-execution-technique-in-winrm-vbs-c8c24fb40404
author: Julia Fomina, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    contains_format_pretty_arg:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'format:pretty'
            - 'format:"pretty"'
            - 'format:"text"'
            - 'format:text'
    image_from_system_folder:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    contains_winrm:
        CommandLine|contains: 'winrm'
    condition: contains_winrm and (contains_format_pretty_arg and not image_from_system_folder)
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: medium

title: AWL Bypass with Winrm.vbs and Malicious WsmPty.xsl/WsmTxt.xsl - File
id: d353dac0-1b41-46c2-820c-d7d2561fc6ed
related:
    - id: 074e0ded-6ced-4ebd-8b4d-53f55908119d
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects execution of attacker-controlled WsmPty.xsl or WsmTxt.xsl via winrm.vbs and copied cscript.exe (can be renamed)
references:
    - https://posts.specterops.io/application-whitelisting-bypass-and-arbitrary-unsigned-code-execution-technique-in-winrm-vbs-c8c24fb40404
author: Julia Fomina, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-11-28
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    system_files:
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            - 'WsmPty.xsl'
            - 'WsmTxt.xsl'
    in_system_folder:
        TargetFilename|startswith:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    condition: system_files and not in_system_folder
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: medium

title: Assembly Loading Via CL_LoadAssembly.ps1
id: c57872c7-614f-4d7f-a40d-b78c8df2d30d
status: test
description: Detects calls to "LoadAssemblyFromPath" or "LoadAssemblyFromNS" that are part of the "CL_LoadAssembly.ps1" script. This can be abused to load different assemblies and bypass App locker controls.
references:
    - https://bohops.com/2018/01/07/executing-commands-and-bypassing-applocker-with-powershell-diagnostic-scripts/
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/CL_LoadAssembly/
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-05-21
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # Note: As this function is usually called from within powershell, classical process creation even would not catch it. This will only catch inline calls via "-Command" or "-ScriptBlock" flags for example.
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'LoadAssemblyFromPath '
            - 'LoadAssemblyFromNS '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Execute Code with Pester.bat
id: 59e938ff-0d6d-4dc3-b13f-36cc28734d4e
status: test
description: Detects code execution via Pester.bat (Pester - Powershell Modulte for testing)
references:
    - https://twitter.com/Oddvarmoe/status/993383596244258816
    - https://github.com/api0cradle/LOLBAS/blob/d148d278f5f205ce67cfaf49afdfb68071c7252a/OSScripts/pester.md
author: Julia Fomina, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-08
modified: 2023-11-09
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    powershell_module:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'Pester'
            - 'Get-Help'
    cmd_execution:
        Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'pester'
            - ';'
    get_help:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'help'
            - '\?'
    condition: powershell_module or (cmd_execution and get_help)
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of Pester for writing tests for Powershell scripts and modules
level: medium

title: Execute Code with Pester.bat as Parent
id: 18988e1b-9087-4f8a-82fe-0414dce49878
related:
    - id: 59e938ff-0d6d-4dc3-b13f-36cc28734d4e
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects code execution via Pester.bat (Pester - Powershell Modulte for testing)
references:
    - https://twitter.com/Oddvarmoe/status/993383596244258816
    - https://twitter.com/_st0pp3r_/status/1560072680887525378
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali
date: 2022-08-20
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_module:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains: '\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\Pester\'
    selection_cli:
        ParentCommandLine|contains:
            - '{ Invoke-Pester -EnableExit ;'
            - '{ Get-Help "'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of Pester for writing tests for Powershell scripts and modules
level: medium

title: Launch-VsDevShell.PS1 Proxy Execution
id: 45d3a03d-f441-458c-8883-df101a3bb146
status: test
description: Detects the use of the 'Launch-VsDevShell.ps1' Microsoft signed script to execute commands.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1535981653239255040
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-19
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_script:
        CommandLine|contains: 'Launch-VsDevShell.ps1'
    selection_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'VsWherePath '
            - 'VsInstallationPath '
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of the script by a developer
level: medium

title: Potential Process Execution Proxy Via CL_Invocation.ps1
id: a0459f02-ac51-4c09-b511-b8c9203fc429
status: test
description: Detects calls to "SyncInvoke" that is part of the "CL_Invocation.ps1" script to proxy execution using "System.Diagnostics.Process"
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/Cl_invocation/
    - https://twitter.com/bohops/status/948061991012327424
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova
date: 2020-10-14
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        # Note: As this function is usually called from within powershell, classical process creation even would not catch it. This will only catch inline calls via "-Command" or "-ScriptBlock" flags for example.
        CommandLine|contains: 'SyncInvoke '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Potential Script Proxy Execution Via CL_Mutexverifiers.ps1
id: 1e0e1a81-e79b-44bc-935b-ddb9c8006b3d
status: test
description: Detects the use of the Microsoft signed script "CL_mutexverifiers" to proxy the execution of additional PowerShell script commands
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/CL_mutexverifiers/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, frack113
date: 2022-05-21
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_pwsh:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            # Note: to avoid potential FPs we assume the script was launched from powershell. But in theory it can be launched by any Powershell like process
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
        Image|endswith: '\powershell.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: ' -nologo -windowstyle minimized -file '
    selection_temp:
        # Note: Since the function uses "env:temp" the value will change depending on the context of exec
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
            - '\Windows\Temp\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Pubprn.vbs Proxy Execution
id: 1fb76ab8-fa60-4b01-bddd-71e89bf555da
status: test
description: Detects the use of the 'Pubprn.vbs' Microsoft signed script to execute commands.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/Pubprn/
author: frack113
date: 2022-05-28
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '\pubprn.vbs'
            - 'script:'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Remote Code Execute via Winrm.vbs
id: 9df0dd3a-1a5c-47e3-a2bc-30ed177646a0
status: test
description: Detects an attempt to execute code or create service on remote host via winrm.vbs.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/bohops/status/994405551751815170
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/lateral-movement-winrm-wmi/
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/Winrm/
author: Julia Fomina, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2023-03-03
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        # Note: winrm.vbs can only be run by a process named cscript (see "IsCScriptEnv" function)
        - Image|endswith: '\cscript.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'cscript.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'winrm'
            - 'invoke Create wmicimv2/Win32_'
            - '-r:http'
    condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: SyncAppvPublishingServer VBS Execute Arbitrary PowerShell Code
id: 36475a7d-0f6d-4dce-9b01-6aeb473bbaf1
status: test
description: Executes arbitrary PowerShell code using SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1216/T1216.md
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Syncappvpublishingserver/
author: frack113
date: 2021-07-16
modified: 2022-06-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '\SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs'
            - ';'  # at a minimum, a semi-colon is required
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Uncommon Sigverif.EXE Child Process
id: 7d4aaec2-08ed-4430-8b96-28420e030e04
status: test
description: |
    Detects uncommon child processes spawning from "sigverif.exe", which could indicate potential abuse of the latter as a living of the land binary in order to proxy execution.
references:
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2018/04/27/i-shot-the-sigverif-exe-the-gui-based-lolbin/
    - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1457676633809330184
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-19
modified: 2024-08-27
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\sigverif.exe'
    filter_main_werfault:
        Image:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\WerFault.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WerFault.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: UtilityFunctions.ps1 Proxy Dll
id: 0403d67d-6227-4ea8-8145-4e72db7da120
status: test
description: Detects the use of a Microsoft signed script executing a managed DLL with PowerShell.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/UtilityFunctions/
author: frack113
date: 2022-05-28
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1216
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'UtilityFunctions.ps1'
            - 'RegSnapin '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium