huntrule

PowerShell MsXml2.XmlHttp COM Object Instantiation

Alerts on PowerShell creating an MsXml2.XmlHttp COM object through New-Object -ComObject.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
ps_script
Author
frack113, MatilJ (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-01-19
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell script content that creates a COM object using MsXml2.XmlHttp via New-Object -ComObject. Adversaries commonly use this pattern to programmatically make requests and execute subsequent logic within a PowerShell script. It relies on telemetry that captures PowerShell script block text, including Script Block Logging, to match the specific string combination in the script content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious SharePoint Worker Process Spawning Command Interpreter via ToolShell
Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell
Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess
PowerShell MsXml2.XmlHttp COM Object Instantiation
Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.