Hidden PowerShell Archive Extraction via ExtractToDirectory

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a hidden PowerShell process using the System IO Compression ZipFile ExtractToDirectory method together with an execution policy bypass. The Xeno loader uses this routine to unpack its bundled Java runtime and stealer payload.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell FromBase64String CommandLine Base64 Encoded Usage (Windows)

Suspicious XOR-Encoded PowerShell Command Line (Windows Process Creation)

Malicious Shell Payload Piped from curl to zsh

Suspicious Cabinet Extraction of Masqueraded vstm Archive via extrac32

Suspicious tar Extraction of Staged Archive to Temp (via process_creation)

Hidden PowerShell Archive Extraction via ExtractToDirectory

Pivot detection · T1140 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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