Windows PowerShell Script: Remove Account From Domain Admin Group via Remove-ADGroupMember
Alerts on PowerShell commands removing specified members via Remove-ADGroupMember, potentially disrupting Domain Admin access.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- ps_script
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-12-26
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ImpactRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
What it detects
This rule flags PowerShell script block content that calls Remove-ADGroupMember while specifying an Identity and Members parameter, indicating an attempt to remove an account from a domain admin group. Reducing or altering privileged group membership can disrupt administrative access and availability for legitimate users. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry to capture the relevant PowerShell command text in Windows.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1531/T1531.md#atomic-test-3---remove-account-from-domain-admin-group
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_susp_remove_adgroupmember.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows PowerShell Script: Remove Account From Domain Admin Group via Remove-ADGroupMember"
id: d54c485b-4b83-4cab-9808-699b7b0cfadb
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell script block content that calls Remove-ADGroupMember while specifying an Identity and Members parameter, indicating an attempt to remove an account from a domain admin group. Reducing or altering privileged group membership can disrupt administrative access and availability for legitimate users. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry to capture the relevant PowerShell command text in Windows.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1531/T1531.md#atomic-test-3---remove-account-from-domain-admin-group
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_susp_remove_adgroupmember.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-26
tags:
- attack.impact
- attack.t1531
logsource:
product: windows
category: ps_script
definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
selection:
ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
- Remove-ADGroupMember
- "-Identity "
- "-Members "
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 48a45d45-8112-416b-8a67-46e03a4b2107
type: derived