PowerShell Command-Line Obfuscation Constructs (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027.010Command Obfuscation
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects PowerShell command lines that use format-operator, character-array, backtick or string-reversal obfuscation to hide the real payload from simple string matching. Command obfuscation accompanies the heavy PowerShell abuse documented in the Red Canary Threat Detection Report, and these constructs are rarely produced by legitimate one-liners. Detecting the obfuscation syntax surfaces evasive script execution regardless of the ultimate payload.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

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PowerShell Crypto Namespace Class Invocation for Windows Process Creation

Suspicious node.exe Execution Spawned by PowerShell

Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by mshta.exe in FakeSG Chain (via process_creation)

Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Using Base64 Stream Decompression Routines (via process_creation)

PowerShell Command-Line Obfuscation Constructs (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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