huntrule

Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock with Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Execution Parameters

Alerts on PowerShell ScriptBlockText containing encoded command, hidden window, or noninteractive execution parameters.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
ps_script
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2017-03-12
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 flags PowerShell script block text that includes command parameters commonly used to alter execution behavior, such as encoded command flags, hidden window options, or noninteractive mode. Attackers use encoded and hidden/noninteractive execution to reduce visibility and complicate analysis while still running malicious logic. It relies on Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry that captures ScriptBlockText content for these parameter patterns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by Explorer via ClickFix Run Dialog (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell Download Cradle via ClickFix Fake CAPTCHA (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell EncodedCommand Spawned From Command Shell via Process Creation
Suspicious Script Download via Curl and PowerShell by Dohdoor
Malicious Mass Hyper-V Virtual Machine Shutdown via PowerShell by Kraken Ransomware
Suspicious PowerShell WebClient DownloadFile of Archive Payload (UAT-7237)
Suspicious SharePoint Worker Process Spawning Command Interpreter via ToolShell
Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell
Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess
Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock with Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Execution Parameters
Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.