Windows: File Creation of Get-Variable.exe in PowerShell WindowsApps Path

Alerts on creation of Get-Variable.exe in Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps, a potential cmdlet-path hijack.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-04-23
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1546Event Triggered Execution
Priv Esc
- T1546Event Triggered Execution
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags creation of a file named Get-Variable.exe under the default WindowsApps directory path used during PowerShell execution. Attackers may abuse filename/path search behavior by introducing a malicious executable that could be invoked instead of the legitimate PowerShell cmdlet. The detection relies on Windows file creation telemetry that includes the target filename and supports suffix matching.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: File Creation of Get-Variable.exe in PowerShell WindowsApps Path

Pivot detection · T1027 · 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.

windows-file-creation-of-suspicious-get-variable-exe-under-windowsapps-0c3fac91

title: "Windows: File Creation of Get-Variable.exe in PowerShell WindowsApps Path"
id: 2f284233-8ea5-4be7-b03d-4fe13a89ab5f
status: test
description: This rule flags creation of a file named Get-Variable.exe under the default WindowsApps directory path used during PowerShell execution. Attackers may abuse filename/path search behavior by introducing a malicious executable that could be invoked instead of the legitimate PowerShell cmdlet. The detection relies on Windows file creation telemetry that includes the target filename and supports suffix matching.
references:
  - https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-intelligence/2022/04/colibri-loader-combines-task-scheduler-and-powershell-in-clever-persistence-technique/
  - https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/465533/0/html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_susp_get_variable.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-04-23
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1546
  - attack.t1027
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: file_event
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|endswith: Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Get-Variable.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 0c3fac91-5627-46e8-a6a8-a0d7b9b8ae1b
    type: derived

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