Windows gpscript.exe Executes Group Policy Logon/Startup Scripts

Flags gpscript.exe running with /logon or /startup, suggestive of Group Policy script execution abuse.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-05-16
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies execution of gpscript.exe where the command line includes /logon or /startup, indicating that Group Policy–configured scripts are being run. Attackers can abuse this LOLBIN behavior to execute arbitrary script payloads at user logon or system startup. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and the specific command-line flags, and excluding cases where the parent command line matches the gpsvc svchost context.

Reporting behind it

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Windows gpscript.exe Executes Group Policy Logon/Startup Scripts

Pivot detection · T1218 · 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-gpscript-exe-execution-with-logon-or-startup-parameters-1e59c230

title: Windows gpscript.exe Executes Group Policy Logon/Startup Scripts
id: e6c0aacc-29de-4af4-a049-a20db74e7d8a
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of gpscript.exe where the command line includes /logon or /startup, indicating that Group Policy–configured scripts are being run. Attackers can abuse this LOLBIN behavior to execute arbitrary script payloads at user logon or system startup. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and the specific command-line flags, and excluding cases where the parent command line matches the gpsvc svchost context.
references:
  - https://oddvar.moe/2018/04/27/gpscript-exe-another-lolbin-to-the-list/
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Gpscript/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_gpscript.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-05-16
modified: 2023-06-14
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \gpscript.exe
    - OriginalFileName: GPSCRIPT.EXE
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " /logon"
      - " /startup"
  filter_main_svchost:
    ParentCommandLine: C:\windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p -s gpsvc
  condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate uses of logon scripts distributed via group policy
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1e59c230-6670-45bf-83b0-98903780607e
    type: derived

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