Windows SyncAppvPublishingServer Execution Triggering PowerShell Module Context

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 matches process executions where the command/context contains SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe. Attackers can use this binary as a utility to evade PowerShell execution restrictions, making the observed process path or context an important indicator of stealthy execution attempts. It relies on Windows PowerShell module telemetry that includes ContextInfo content from the invocation.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Cabinet Extraction of Masqueraded vstm Archive via extrac32

Malicious DLL Execution via Wuauclt Update Handler (via process_creation)

Malicious aspnet_compiler.exe Injection Host Spawned by PowerShell via process_creation

Malicious regsvcs LOLBin Loading Ransomware DLL from UNC Path

Suspicious RegAsm or RegSvcs Spawned by Script Host (via process_creation)

Suspicious Extexport DLL Side-Loading Execution

Malicious ClickFix Execution Chain Spawning MSHTA via Pcalua on EtherRAT Infection

Suspicious TALONITE Certutil LOLBIN Decode and Download Abuse (via process_creation)

Suspicious Renamed git Binary gcmd.exe Execution (via process_creation)

Windows SyncAppvPublishingServer Execution Triggering PowerShell Module Context

Pivot detection · T1218 · 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-syncappvpublishingserver-exe-command-line-usage-fe5ce7eb

title: Windows SyncAppvPublishingServer Execution Triggering PowerShell Module Context
id: 813dac71-433f-4ae6-b71d-c0a8f5da16d4
related:
  - id: fde7929d-8beb-4a4c-b922-be9974671667
    type: derived
  - id: 9f7aa113-9da6-4a8d-907c-5f1a4b908299
    type: derived
  - id: fe5ce7eb-dad8-467c-84a9-31ec23bd644a
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule matches process executions where the command/context contains SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe. Attackers can use this binary as a utility to evade PowerShell execution restrictions, making the observed process path or context an important indicator of stealthy execution attempts. It relies on Windows PowerShell module telemetry that includes ContextInfo content from the invocation.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Syncappvpublishingserver/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_syncappvpublishingserver_exe.yml
author: Ensar Şamil, @sblmsrsn, OSCD Community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-05
modified: 2022-12-02
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_module
  definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
  selection:
    ContextInfo|contains: SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - App-V clients
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

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

SplunkSPL