huntrule

Windows PowerShell: Suspicious GetTypeFromCLSID and ShellExecute usage

Flags PowerShell script blocks that use GetTypeFromCLSID followed by ShellExecute.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
ps_script
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-04-02
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

  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 flags PowerShell script content that calls [System.Type]::GetTypeFromCLSID() and then invokes .ShellExecute(), a pattern commonly used to instantiate COM objects and execute actions from scripts. Attackers can use this technique to launch processes or trigger behaviors while leveraging COM activation and execution. The detection relies on script block text telemetry that captures the relevant code strings in logged PowerShell script content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1546.015 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious COM Hijack of ClickOnce Deployment Service CLSID (via registry_set)
Suspicious COM Hijack Via InprocServer32 Modification
Malicious COM Hijacking via TinyTurla CLSID InprocServer32 (via registry_set)
Suspicious dllhost.exe Spawned with CLSID and Anomalous Parent (via process_creation)
Suspicious COM Handler Hijack of MsCtfMonitor CLSID via CharmingCypress
Malicious COM Hijack of PSFactoryBuffer InprocServer32
Malicious APT-C-60 COM Hijack via SpyGlace CLSID InProcServer32 (via registry_set)
Malicious COM Hijack via CLSID InProcServer32 Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious COM Object Hijack Pointing to a User-Writable DLL (via registry_set)
Windows PowerShell: Suspicious GetTypeFromCLSID and ShellExecute usage
Pivot detection · T1546.015 · 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.