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

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 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

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

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Changelog

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-scriptblock-parameters-enc-hidden-window-and-noninteractiv-ed965133

title: Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock with Encoded, Hidden, or Noninteractive Execution Parameters
id: 33f0cec5-edfb-4af0-b065-5163dff1667c
related:
  - id: 3d304fda-78aa-43ed-975c-d740798a49c1
    type: derived
  - id: bbb80e91-5746-4fbe-8898-122e2cafdbf4
    type: similar
  - id: ed965133-513f-41d9-a441-e38076a0798f
    type: derived
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - Internal Research
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_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_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection_encoded:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - " -enc "
      - " -EncodedCommand "
      - " -ec "
  selection_hidden:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - " -w hidden "
      - " -window hidden "
      - " -windowstyle hidden "
      - " -w 1 "
  selection_noninteractive:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - " -noni "
      - " -noninteractive "
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Very special / sneaky PowerShell scripts
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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