Windows Security Event 4697 PowerShell Launch via cmd/stdin Obfuscation

Alerts on service creation events that run PowerShell through cmd with stdin-style obfuscation markers.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Service: security
Author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-15
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows systems where a Service Control Manager-created service (EventID 4697) contains a command-line referencing cmd and PowerShell, including patterns consistent with obfuscated stdin-driven execution. Attackers may use stdin or stdin-like constructs to conceal the final command or payload before execution, reducing visibility during investigation. It relies on Security log telemetry from EventID 4697 and string matches within the recorded ServiceFileName content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious PowerShell Invoke-Expression with Replace Obfuscation

Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell

Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess

Suspicious PS1Bot PowerShell Payload Written to ProgramData (via file_event)

Malicious Non-Interactive Encoded PowerShell Stager (via process_creation)

Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Executing Substring of Dropped File

PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)

Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)

Suspicious PowerShell AES Decryption and Reflective Method Invocation in SolarMarker

Windows Security Event 4697 PowerShell Launch via cmd/stdin Obfuscation

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-powershell-execution-via-obfuscated-cmdstdin-input-event-id-4697-0c718a5e

title: Windows Security Event 4697 PowerShell Launch via cmd/stdin Obfuscation
id: ab8abae0-89f5-4ed7-95c3-ef38015daf5c
related:
  - id: 72862bf2-0eb1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
    type: derived
  - id: 0c718a5e-4284-4fb9-b4d9-b9a50b3a1974
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows systems where a Service Control Manager-created service (EventID 4697) contains a command-line referencing cmd and PowerShell, including patterns consistent with obfuscated stdin-driven execution. Attackers may use stdin or stdin-like constructs to conceal the final command or payload before execution, reducing visibility during investigation. It relies on Security log telemetry from EventID 4697 and string matches within the recorded ServiceFileName content.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_invoke_obfuscation_stdin_services_security.yml
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
  definition: The 'System Security Extension' audit subcategory need to be enabled to log the EID 4697
detection:
  selection:
    EventID: 4697
    ServiceFileName|contains|all:
      - cmd
      - powershell
  selection2:
    ServiceFileName|contains:
      - ${input}
      - noexit
  selection3:
    ServiceFileName|contains:
      - " /c "
      - " /r "
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL