Possible Packet Capture Behavior Through Start-NetEventSession - ScriptBlock (via ps_script)

title: Possible Packet Capture Behavior Through Start-NetEventSession - ScriptBlock (via ps_script)
id: b61b5286-7da3-5723-af86-836b3a81c44a
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of powershell scripts with calls to the "Start-NetEventSession" cmdlet. Which enables an adversary to start event and packet capture for a network event session. Adversaries may attempt to capture network to gather information over the course of an operation. Data captured via this method may include user credentials, especially those sent over an insecure, unencrypted protocol.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1040/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/5f866ca4517e837c4ea576e7309d0891e78080a8/atomics/T1040/T1040.md#atomic-test-16---powershell-network-sniffing
    - https://github.com/0xsyr0/Awesome-Cybersecurity-Handbooks/blob/7b8935fe4c82cb64d61343de1a8b2e38dd968534/handbooks/10_post_exploitation.md
    - https://github.com/forgottentq/powershell/blob/9e616363d497143dc955c4fdce68e5c18d28a6cb/captureWindows-Endpoint.ps1#L13
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-21
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1040
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: 'Start-NetEventSession'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium