Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER-Style Obfuscated PowerShell Command Block

Detects VAR++ LAUNCHER-like PowerShell obfuscation patterns in ScriptBlockText.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-13
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell script block content that matches a VAR++ LAUNCHER-style obfuscation pattern, including use of && with format-string driven substitutions and cmd /c invocation. Obfuscated PowerShell is commonly used to conceal intent, hinder analysis, and execute further commands with reduced visibility. The detection relies on Script Block Logging telemetry that records PowerShell ScriptBlockText for matching the specific obfuscation string structure.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Non-Interactive Encoded PowerShell Stager (via process_creation)

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Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)

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Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER-Style Obfuscated PowerShell Command Block

Pivot detection · T1027 · 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-var-launcher-obfuscation-via-scriptblocktext-set-with-encoded-formatt-e54f5149

title: Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER-Style Obfuscated PowerShell Command Block
id: e78f41df-dcb0-43bc-b728-47a34b3d0dfa
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell script block content that matches a VAR++ LAUNCHER-style obfuscation pattern, including use of && with format-string driven substitutions and cmd /c invocation. Obfuscated PowerShell is commonly used to conceal intent, hinder analysis, and execute further commands with reduced visibility. The detection relies on Script Block Logging telemetry that records PowerShell ScriptBlockText for matching the specific obfuscation string structure.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_invoke_obfuscation_via_var.yml
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection_4104:
    ScriptBlockText|re: (?i)&&set.*(\{\d\}){2,}\\"\s+?-f.*&&.*cmd.*/c
  condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: e54f5149-6ba3-49cf-b153-070d24679126
    type: derived

Convert

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