Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: Nishang Commandlet Names and Arguments

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 matches PowerShell script block content for known Nishang framework commandlet/function names. These artifacts can indicate attacker tradecraft for credential access, persistence, data collection, and execution workflows delivered via PowerShell. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry to observe the exact text of commands and parameters within executed PowerShell script blocks.

Reporting behind it

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Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: Nishang Commandlet Names and Arguments

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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-script-block-indicators-for-nishang-commandlets-and-arguments-f772cee9

title: "Windows PowerShell Script Block Logging: Nishang Commandlet Names and Arguments"
id: e182610d-c7dd-4c0a-ae30-877be922dd0f
status: test
description: This rule matches PowerShell script block content for known Nishang framework commandlet/function names. These artifacts can indicate attacker tradecraft for credential access, persistence, data collection, and execution workflows delivered via PowerShell. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry to observe the exact text of commands and parameters within executed PowerShell script blocks.
references:
  - https://github.com/samratashok/nishang
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_nishang_malicious_commandlets.yml
author: Alec Costello, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-05-16
modified: 2023-01-16
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - Add-ConstrainedDelegationBackdoor
      - Copy-VSS
      - Create-MultipleSessions
      - DataToEncode
      - DNS_TXT_Pwnage
      - Do-Exfiltration-Dns
      - Download_Execute
      - Download-Execute-PS
      - DownloadAndExtractFromRemoteRegistry
      - DumpCerts
      - DumpCreds
      - DumpHashes
      - Enable-DuplicateToken
      - Enable-Duplication
      - Execute-Command-MSSQL
      - Execute-DNSTXT-Code
      - Execute-OnTime
      - ExetoText
      - exfill
      - ExfilOption
      - FakeDC
      - FireBuster
      - FireListener
      - "Get-Information "
      - Get-PassHints
      - Get-Web-Credentials
      - Get-WebCredentials
      - Get-WLAN-Keys
      - HTTP-Backdoor
      - Invoke-AmsiBypass
      - Invoke-BruteForce
      - Invoke-CredentialsPhish
      - Invoke-Decode
      - Invoke-Encode
      - Invoke-Interceptor
      - Invoke-JSRatRegsvr
      - Invoke-JSRatRundll
      - Invoke-MimikatzWDigestDowngrade
      - Invoke-NetworkRelay
      - Invoke-PowerShellIcmp
      - Invoke-PowerShellUdp
      - Invoke-Prasadhak
      - Invoke-PSGcat
      - Invoke-PsGcatAgent
      - Invoke-SessionGopher
      - Invoke-SSIDExfil
      - LoggedKeys
      - Nishang
      - NotAllNameSpaces
      - Out-CHM
      - OUT-DNSTXT
      - Out-HTA
      - Out-RundllCommand
      - Out-SCF
      - Out-SCT
      - Out-Shortcut
      - Out-WebQuery
      - Out-Word
      - Parse_Keys
      - Password-List
      - Powerpreter
      - Remove-Persistence
      - Remove-PoshRat
      - Remove-Update
      - Run-EXEonRemote
      - Set-DCShadowPermissions
      - Set-RemotePSRemoting
      - Set-RemoteWMI
      - Shellcode32
      - Shellcode64
      - StringtoBase64
      - TexttoExe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: f772cee9-b7c2-4cb2-8f07-49870adc02e0
    type: derived

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