huntrule

Suspicious PowerShell Encoded Command Execution

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-18
Updated
2026-09-18
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects powershell.exe or pwsh.exe invoked with an encoded command parameter, a technique used to obfuscate scripts and command-and-control instructions during post-exploitation and exfiltration. Encoded commands hide intent from casual inspection and are frequently abused by malware and offensive frameworks.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)
Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)
Suspicious PowerShell AES Decryption and Reflective Method Invocation in SolarMarker
Suspicious PowerShell Encoded Command Execution
Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 related

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