Windows File Changes to Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1 via PowerShell Profile
Detects creation or modification of Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1 based on Windows file events.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-08-24
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Persistence → Priv EscRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
Identifies creation or modification of the VSCode PowerShell profile file named Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1 on Windows. Attackers can use PowerShell profiles to execute commands automatically in interactive sessions, enabling persistence or follow-on actions. The rule relies on Windows file event telemetry that records changes to the target filename ending with \Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: Windows File Changes to Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1 via PowerShell Profile
id: 9f069b91-da06-47d2-9317-28ab928e909f
related:
- id: b5b78988-486d-4a80-b991-930eff3ff8bf
type: similar
- id: 3a9fa2ec-30bc-4ebd-b49e-7c9cff225502
type: derived
status: test
description: Identifies creation or modification of the VSCode PowerShell profile file named Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1 on Windows. Attackers can use PowerShell profiles to execute commands automatically in interactive sessions, enabling persistence or follow-on actions. The rule relies on Windows file event telemetry that records changes to the target filename ending with \Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1.
references:
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles?view=powershell-7.2
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_susp_vscode_powershell_profile.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-24
modified: 2023-01-06
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.t1546.013
logsource:
product: windows
category: file_event
detection:
selection:
TargetFilename|endswith: \Microsoft.VSCode_profile.ps1
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate use of the profile by developers or administrators
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1