huntrule

PowerShell Script Obfuscation Triggered by Use of clip.exe and Clipboard Invocation

Flags PowerShell Script Block Logging containing clip.exe/clipboard chaining and clipboard-driven execution markers.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
ps_script
Author
Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-09
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  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 block content that includes an execution sequence referencing clip-related behavior and a clipboard-related invocation (including Clipboard or an Invoke-Clipboard-like pattern). Attackers may use clip.exe and clipboard workflows to stage or conceal execution artifacts, making payload delivery less obvious in normal command inspection. The detection relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry that captures ScriptBlockText patterns matching the specified clip and clipboard-related strings.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
Malicious FIN7 Powertrash Loader Execution via Obfuscated PowerShell (via process_creation)
Suspicious XOR Obfuscated PowerShell from ClickFix Distribution
Suspicious PowerShell Executing Code from Environment Variable (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory Runspace Execution via PowerShell Script Block
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Using Base64 Stream Decompression Routines (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell In-Memory Execution with AES Decryption
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Command Execution
Suspicious PEAKLIGHT Memory-Only PowerShell Downloader Flags (via process_creation)
Obfuscated PowerShell Script: Indirect Cmdlet Execution via ExportedCommands Array Index
PowerShell Script Obfuscation Triggered by Use of clip.exe and Clipboard Invocation
Pivot detection · T1027 · 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.