Suspicious PowerShell Download Cradle via Net.WebClient DownloadFile

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-22
Updated
2026-09-22

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → C2
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Persistence

  5. Priv Esc

  6. Defense Evasion

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. Exfiltration

  12. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects PowerShell invoking the Net.WebClient DownloadFile method, a download cradle used by KoiLoader shortcut droppers to retrieve secondary payloads. Scripted retrieval of remote files through the .NET web client is a common ingress technique for loaders and should be reviewed in context.

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Suspicious Hidden PowerShell WebClient DownloadFile Cradle
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Suspicious PowerShell Download Cradle via Net.WebClient DownloadFile
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.