Suspicious PowerShell Module Execution Using Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Context (Windows)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell module-related executions whose ContextInfo contains indicators of encoded commands, hidden windows, or noninteractive mode. Attackers often use these flags to run payloads stealthily and reduce user interaction, while encoded parameters can obscure intent. The detection relies on Windows telemetry that records PowerShell ContextInfo strings containing the specific parameter substrings.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious PowerShell Module Execution Using Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Context (Windows)

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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.

suspicious-powershell-module-arguments-encoded-hidden-window-or-noninteractive-bbb80e91

title: Suspicious PowerShell Module Execution Using Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Context (Windows)
id: d868fced-3836-448d-a3a3-a9816f2075ec
related:
  - id: 3d304fda-78aa-43ed-975c-d740798a49c1
    type: derived
  - id: ed965133-513f-41d9-a441-e38076a0798f
    type: similar
  - id: bbb80e91-5746-4fbe-8898-122e2cafdbf4
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell module-related executions whose ContextInfo contains indicators of encoded commands, hidden windows, or noninteractive mode. Attackers often use these flags to run payloads stealthily and reduce user interaction, while encoded parameters can obscure intent. The detection relies on Windows telemetry that records PowerShell ContextInfo strings containing the specific parameter substrings.
references:
  - Internal Research
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_susp_invocation_generic.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2017-03-12
modified: 2023-01-03
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_module
  definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
  selection_encoded:
    ContextInfo|contains:
      - " -enc "
      - " -EncodedCommand "
      - " -ec "
  selection_hidden:
    ContextInfo|contains:
      - " -w hidden "
      - " -window hidden "
      - " -windowstyle hidden "
      - " -w 1 "
  selection_noninteractive:
    ContextInfo|contains:
      - " -noni "
      - " -noninteractive "
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Very special / sneaky PowerShell scripts
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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