PowerShell Script Block Collection of Documents via Recursive Get-ChildItem

Alerts on PowerShell file enumeration that recursively searches and includes common document extensions via Get-ChildItem.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-07-28
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Collection

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
- T1119Automated Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell script blocks that both recursively enumerate files and include common document extensions such as .doc/.docx, .xls/.xlsx, .ppt/.pptx, .rtf, .pdf, and .txt. Adversaries can use this automated discovery behavior to locate and stage internal data for later collection or exfiltration. It relies on ScriptBlockText contents from PowerShell script block logging on Windows and matches specific text patterns within the script block.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Script Block Collection of Documents via Recursive Get-ChildItem

Pivot detection · T1119 · 7 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

powershell-automated-file-collection-using-get-childitem-with-recursive-include--c1dda054

title: PowerShell Script Block Collection of Documents via Recursive Get-ChildItem
id: a1bf4226-f394-43e6-b624-d78284dba6d1
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell script blocks that both recursively enumerate files and include common document extensions such as .doc/.docx, .xls/.xlsx, .ppt/.pptx, .rtf, .pdf, and .txt. Adversaries can use this automated discovery behavior to locate and stage internal data for later collection or exfiltration. It relies on ScriptBlockText contents from PowerShell script block logging on Windows and matches specific text patterns within the script block.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1119/T1119.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_automated_collection.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-07-28
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
  - attack.collection
  - attack.t1119
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection_ext:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - .doc
      - .docx
      - .xls
      - .xlsx
      - .ppt
      - .pptx
      - .rtf
      - .pdf
      - .txt
  selection_cmd:
    ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
      - Get-ChildItem
      - " -Recurse "
      - " -Include "
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: c1dda054-d638-4c16-afc8-53e007f3fbc5
    type: derived

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