PowerShell Script Block Collection of Browser Bookmarks via Get-ChildItem
Detects PowerShell Get-ChildItem activity used to recursively enumerate browser bookmarks from a target path.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- ps_script
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-12-13
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
DiscoveryRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies PowerShell script block text that uses Get-ChildItem with parameters consistent with recursively locating files matching a "Bookmarks" filter while suppressing errors. Adversaries can use this file enumeration to discover browser-stored bookmark data and extract user or internal context from a compromised host. It relies on Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry where the full ScriptBlockText is available for inspection.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: PowerShell Script Block Collection of Browser Bookmarks via Get-ChildItem
id: ebf61ae9-38ec-4e47-b497-00dd5dee5f53
status: test
description: This rule identifies PowerShell script block text that uses Get-ChildItem with parameters consistent with recursively locating files matching a "Bookmarks" filter while suppressing errors. Adversaries can use this file enumeration to discover browser-stored bookmark data and extract user or internal context from a compromised host. It relies on Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry where the full ScriptBlockText is available for inspection.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1217/T1217.md
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_get_childitem_bookmarks.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-13
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
- attack.discovery
- attack.t1217
logsource:
product: windows
category: ps_script
definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
selection:
ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
- Get-ChildItem
- " -Recurse "
- " -Path "
- " -Filter Bookmarks"
- " -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue"
- " -Force"
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: e0565f5d-d420-4e02-8a68-ac00d864f9cf
type: derived