PowerShell Write-Hijack HackTool Creates .bat for DLL Hijack Execution (Windows)

Flags PowerShell creating .bat files consistent with PowerUp Write-Hijack DLL abuse on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: Subhash Popuri (@pbssubhash) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-08-21
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1574.001DLL
Persistence
- T1574.001DLL
Priv Esc
- T1574.001DLL
Defense Evasion
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell or PowerShell Core processes that create a .bat file. The behavior aligns with using the Powerup Write-Hijack DLL capability, which in its default mode builds a self-deleting batch file (debug.bat by default) to execute malicious commands. Detection relies on file creation telemetry capturing the .bat creation event associated with the invoking PowerShell process.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Write-Hijack HackTool Creates .bat for DLL Hijack Execution (Windows)

Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 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-powerup-write-hijack-dll-abuse-creating-bat-on-windows-602a1f13

title: PowerShell Write-Hijack HackTool Creates .bat for DLL Hijack Execution (Windows)
id: eb4ba970-33fa-45b7-811c-df346c394bec
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell or PowerShell Core processes that create a .bat file. The behavior aligns with using the Powerup Write-Hijack DLL capability, which in its default mode builds a self-deleting batch file (debug.bat by default) to execute malicious commands. Detection relies on file creation telemetry capturing the .bat creation event associated with the invoking PowerShell process.
references:
  - https://powersploit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Privesc/Write-HijackDll/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_hktl_powerup_dllhijacking.yml
author: Subhash Popuri (@pbssubhash), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-21
modified: 2024-06-27
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith:
      - \powershell.exe
      - \pwsh.exe
    TargetFilename|endswith: .bat
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Any powershell script that creates bat files
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 602a1f13-c640-4d73-b053-be9a2fa58b96
    type: derived

Convert

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