huntrule

Windows: Suspicious PowerShell Interactive History Files Created as SYSTEM

Alerts on creation of PowerShell interactive history/profile files under SYSTEM, signaling privileged PowerShell activity.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-12-07
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 identifies creation of specific PowerShell-related files that indicate interactive PowerShell activity running in the SYSTEM user context. Attackers often use SYSTEM privileges to increase impact, and interactive PowerShell can be used to stage or execute additional actions. The detection relies on Windows file creation events for the two targeted filesystem paths associated with PowerShell history and an interactive StartupProfile data file under the SYSTEM profile.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Suspicious PowerShell Interactive History Files Created as SYSTEM
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.