PowerShell Module: VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscation in Obfuscated Command Payload

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 PowerShell module activity where the module content contains an obfuscation pattern consistent with “VAR++ LAUNCHER” usage. Obfuscated PowerShell is commonly used to hinder analysis and evade detection during execution. The detection relies on Windows PowerShell module telemetry that captures a Payload field and matches a specific regex pattern representing the obfuscated command structure.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Module: VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscation in Obfuscated Command Payload

Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-module-obfuscated-invocation-var-launcher-pattern-f3c89218

title: "PowerShell Module: VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscation in Obfuscated Command Payload"
id: 68c97439-e8d6-4850-befe-b47235a9fdca
related:
  - id: e54f5149-6ba3-49cf-b153-070d24679126
    type: derived
  - id: f3c89218-8c3d-4ba9-9974-f1d8e6a1b4a6
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell module activity where the module content contains an obfuscation pattern consistent with “VAR++ LAUNCHER” usage. Obfuscated PowerShell is commonly used to hinder analysis and evade detection during execution. The detection relies on Windows PowerShell module telemetry that captures a Payload field and matches a specific regex pattern representing the obfuscated command structure.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_invoke_obfuscation_via_var.yml
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_module
  definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
  selection_4103:
    Payload|re: (?i)&&set.*(\{\d\}){2,}\\"\s+?-f.*&&.*cmd.*/c
  condition: selection_4103
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

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