Malicious Konni PowerShell Loader Reading Script from ProgramData via Invoke-Expression (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule detects PowerShell launched with an execution policy bypass that reads a script from the ProgramData directory and runs it through Invoke-Expression, the loader behavior of a Konni AsyncRAT LNK infection that drops d.ps1 into ProgramData. Adversaries leverage Get-Content piped into Invoke-Expression to execute a staged script while hiding the payload from the command line, making early detection critical for catching the loader before AsyncRAT deploys.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Konni PowerShell Loader Reading Script from ProgramData via Invoke-Expression (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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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