huntrule

Windows Exchange PowerShell Cmdlet History File Deleted

Flags deletion of Exchange PowerShell cmdlet history log files in the expected logging directory.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v4
Product
windows
Category
file_delete
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-10-26
Updated
2026-10-14
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

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 identifies deletions of Exchange-related PowerShell cmdlet history files by matching specific directory and filename patterns under Windows log storage. Attackers may remove these artifacts to reduce visibility into PowerShell activity and hinder forensic investigation. The detection relies on file deletion telemetry with the deleted target filename containing the expected path elements.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1070 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious PlugX Self-Cleanup Batch Execution
Suspicious Choice Command Self-Destruct Delete Loop via Command Line
Malicious Ivanti Log Clearing via logClear Perl Script (via process_creation)
Suspicious Browser History Wipe via Rundll32 ClearMyTracksByProcess (via process_creation)
USN Change Journal Deletion via Fsutil (via process_creation)
Suspicious Salesforce Query History Deletion Anti-Forensics
Suspicious Browser History Clearing via RunDll32 InetCpl ClearMyTracksByProcess (via process_creation)
Suspicious Clearing of hosts.deny Access Restrictions on Linux
Windows Process Creation: Command-Line Deletion of IIS Logs
Windows Exchange PowerShell Cmdlet History File Deleted
Pivot detection · T1070 · 9 related

Changelog

v4
  1. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-10-14
  2. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. 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.