PowerShell Module: Obfuscated Clip.exe launcher using cmd with clipboard download payload

Detects obfuscated PowerShell module commands that run cmd with clip.exe/clipboard payload formatting.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_module
Author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-13
Updated: 2026-07-31

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 flags PowerShell module activity where an obfuscated command line invokes cmd to run clip.exe and uses chained actions that include a clipboard-related payload pattern. Obfuscated execution like this can help attackers conceal the true command intent while leveraging clip.exe for indirect data handling. The detection relies on PowerShell module telemetry capturing command payload strings and matching a specific obfuscation/clip.exe plus clipboard payload regex.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Module: Obfuscated Clip.exe launcher using cmd with clipboard download payload

Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 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-module-clip-launcher-obfuscation-via-cmd-clip-clipboard-and-system-st-a136cde0

title: "PowerShell Module: Obfuscated Clip.exe launcher using cmd with clipboard download payload"
id: e55f5e54-835e-407f-bd6d-86b0c3c6ef55
related:
  - id: 73e67340-0d25-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
    type: derived
  - id: a136cde0-61ad-4a61-9b82-8dc490e60dd2
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell module activity where an obfuscated command line invokes cmd to run clip.exe and uses chained actions that include a clipboard-related payload pattern. Obfuscated execution like this can help attackers conceal the true command intent while leveraging clip.exe for indirect data handling. The detection relies on PowerShell module telemetry capturing command payload strings and matching a specific obfuscation/clip.exe plus clipboard payload regex.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_invoke_obfuscation_clip.yml
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_module
  definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
  selection_4103:
    Payload|re: cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+clip(?:\.exe)?.{0,4}&&.+clipboard]::\(\s\\"\{\d\}.+-f.+"
  condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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