Import PowerShell Modules From Suspicious Directories (via ps_script)

This rule detects powershell scripts that import modules from anomalous directories

SigmamediumWindowsv1
sigma
title: Import PowerShell Modules From Suspicious Directories (via ps_script)
id: 2e7d4f27-b8aa-5fa1-ab08-edbf022070fc
status: stable
description: This rule detects powershell scripts that import modules from anomalous directories
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1003.002/T1003.002.md
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-20
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - 'Import-Module "$Env:Temp\'
            - Import-Module '$Env:Temp\
            - 'Import-Module $Env:Temp\'
            - 'Import-Module "$Env:Appdata\'
            - Import-Module '$Env:Appdata\
            - 'Import-Module $Env:Appdata\'
            - 'Import-Module C:\Users\Public\'
            - 'ipmo "$Env:Temp\'
            - ipmo '$Env:Temp\
            - 'ipmo $Env:Temp\'
            - 'ipmo "$Env:Appdata\'
            - ipmo '$Env:Appdata\
            - 'ipmo $Env:Appdata\'
            - 'ipmo C:\Users\Public\'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Known false positives

  • Unknown

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