Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: PSAttack marker string

Alerts when PowerShell script blocks contain the "PS ATTACK!!!" marker on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: Sean Metcalf (source), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2017-03-05
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell script blocks that contain the specific marker string "PS ATTACK!!!" associated with the PSAttack hack tool. Attackers may use this tool to execute malicious actions and obfuscate or automate behavior through PowerShell. The detection relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry capturing the script block text.

Reporting behind it

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Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: PSAttack marker string

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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-script-block-contains-ps-attack-b7ec41a4

title: "Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: PSAttack marker string"
id: b59e3f53-5e70-41cc-823b-65f2e2a35fee
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell script blocks that contain the specific marker string "PS ATTACK!!!" associated with the PSAttack hack tool. Attackers may use this tool to execute malicious actions and obfuscate or automate behavior through PowerShell. The detection relies on PowerShell Script Block Logging telemetry capturing the script block text.
references:
  - https://adsecurity.org/?p=2921
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_psattack.yml
author: Sean Metcalf (source), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2017-03-05
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection:
    ScriptBlockText|contains: PS ATTACK!!!
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b7ec41a4-042c-4f31-a5db-d0fcde9fa5c5
    type: derived

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