PowerShell ShellIntel Commandlet Abuse via ScriptBlock Logging

Flags PowerShell script blocks that reference known ShellIntel commandlets tied to exploitation activity.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems), Tobias Michalski (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-08-09
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
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 contains specific ShellIntel-style commandlet names used in exploitation automation. Attackers may invoke these commandlets to enumerate, brute-force, or manipulate execution targets, making command-line/script content an important indicator of malicious intent. It relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry to capture and match the presence of these commandlets in executed script content.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell ShellIntel Commandlet Abuse via ScriptBlock Logging

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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-shellintel-commandlet-abuse-via-script-block-logging-402e1e1d

title: PowerShell ShellIntel Commandlet Abuse via ScriptBlock Logging
id: 65dcc57c-da7e-40b4-ac40-6164673d5e85
status: test
description: This rule identifies PowerShell script block text that contains specific ShellIntel-style commandlet names used in exploitation automation. Attackers may invoke these commandlets to enumerate, brute-force, or manipulate execution targets, making command-line/script content an important indicator of malicious intent. It relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry to capture and match the presence of these commandlets in executed script content.
references:
  - https://github.com/Shellntel/scripts/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_shellintel_malicious_commandlets.yml
author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems), Tobias Michalski (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-09
modified: 2023-01-02
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - Invoke-SMBAutoBrute
      - Invoke-GPOLinks
      - Invoke-Potato
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 402e1e1d-ad59-47b6-bf80-1ee44985b3a7
    type: derived

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