Suspicious Eventlog Clear (via ps_script)

title: Suspicious Eventlog Clear (via ps_script)
id: 7ecefa68-c8d1-53f1-9fd4-354c9e6c8012
status: stable
description: This rule detects use of known powershell cmdlets such as "Clear-EventLog" to clear the Windows event logs
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/005/
    - https://twitter.com/oroneequalsone/status/1568432028361830402
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1070.001/T1070.001.md
    - https://eqllib.readthedocs.io/en/latest/analytics/5b223758-07d6-4100-9e11-238cfdd0fe97.html
    - https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66011412/how-to-clear-a-event-log-in-powershell-7
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.diagnostics.eventing.reader.eventlogsession.clearlog?view=windowsdesktop-9.0&viewFallbackFrom=dotnet-plat-ext-5.0#System_Diagnostics_Eventing_Reader_EventLogSession_ClearLog_System_String_
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.diagnostics.eventlog.clear
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-05
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685.005
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        - ScriptBlockText|contains:
              - 'Clear-EventLog '
              - 'Remove-EventLog '
              - 'Limit-EventLog '
              - 'Clear-WinEvent '
        - ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
              - 'Eventing.Reader.EventLogSession'
              - 'ClearLog'
        - ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
              - 'Diagnostics.EventLog'
              - 'Clear'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium