Windows PowerShell: Execution of TroubleshootingPack Cmdlets (msdt-related usage)

Flags PowerShell script blocks invoking TroubleshootingPack with unattended answer-file arguments.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-21
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1202Indirect Command Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies PowerShell script block text that invokes TroubleshootingPack with the PCW diagnostics path and unattended answering options. Attackers may use this pattern to run troubleshooting pack components in a way that can support exploitation chains involving msdt-like behavior. Detection relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry capturing the specific cmdlet invocation, file path, and parameters.

Reporting behind it

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Windows PowerShell: Execution of TroubleshootingPack Cmdlets (msdt-related usage)

Pivot detection · T1202 · 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-powershell-execution-of-troubleshootingpack-cmdlet-for-unattended-troubl-03409c93

title: "Windows PowerShell: Execution of TroubleshootingPack Cmdlets (msdt-related usage)"
id: 8db0dbc1-1644-4277-9397-ca95f451c81e
status: test
description: This rule identifies PowerShell script block text that invokes TroubleshootingPack with the PCW diagnostics path and unattended answering options. Attackers may use this pattern to run troubleshooting pack components in a way that can support exploitation chains involving msdt-like behavior. Detection relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry capturing the specific cmdlet invocation, file path, and parameters.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1537919885031772161
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Msdt/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_susp_follina_execution.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-21
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1202
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection:
    ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
      - Invoke-TroubleshootingPack
      - C:\Windows\Diagnostics\System\PCW
      - -AnswerFile
      - -Unattended
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate usage of "TroubleshootingPack" cmdlet for troubleshooting purposes
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 03409c93-a7c7-49ba-9a4c-a00badf2a153
    type: derived

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