Suspicious PowerShell COM-Based Script Execution and HTTP Retrieval (via ps_script)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1071.001Web Protocols
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects PowerShell script content that instantiates the MSScriptControl COM object alongside ServerXMLHTTP for command retrieval. The STEADY#URSA SUBTLE-PAWS backdoor used this combination to fetch and run C2 commands.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious PowerShell COM-Based Script Execution and HTTP Retrieval (via ps_script)

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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