Malicious Fileless PowerShell Registry Payload Execution via Process Creation

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects hidden PowerShell that reads a payload from a registry value and pipes it to Invoke-Expression. StripedFly stores its encrypted loader under an HKCU Applets key and executes it fileless via hidden PowerShell with IEX, achieving stealthy in-memory execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious PowerShell Invoking Remote HTA via Environment Variable Masquerading (via process_creation)

Suspicious Hidden Encoded PowerShell Launching Node.js Runtime

Windows PowerShell Base64-Encoded WMI Class Invocation

PowerShell script alias obfuscation via -Value (-join(...))

Malicious Fileless PowerShell Registry Payload Execution via Process Creation

Pivot detection · T1027 · 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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