Windows PowerShell: Suspicious Process Discovery Using Get-Process
Alerts when PowerShell script blocks contain Get-Process, indicating local process discovery activity.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- ps_script
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-03-17
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
DiscoveryRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags PowerShell activity where the executed script block text contains the Get-Process cmdlet, indicating local process discovery. Attackers commonly enumerate running processes to map the host state, identify security tooling, or prepare subsequent actions. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry that records the script block content executed by PowerShell.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1057/T1057.md#atomic-test-3---process-discovery---get-process
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-process?view=powershell-7.4
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_susp_get_process.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: Suspicious Process Discovery Using Get-Process"
id: 1a0087cc-3262-45ed-8412-96c7ecd6b92d
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell activity where the executed script block text contains the Get-Process cmdlet, indicating local process discovery. Attackers commonly enumerate running processes to map the host state, identify security tooling, or prepare subsequent actions. It relies on Script Block Logging telemetry that records the script block content executed by PowerShell.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1057/T1057.md#atomic-test-3---process-discovery---get-process
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-process?view=powershell-7.4
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_susp_get_process.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-03-17
tags:
- attack.discovery
- attack.t1057
logsource:
product: windows
category: ps_script
definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
selection:
ScriptBlockText|contains: Get-Process
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate PowerShell scripts
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: af4c87ce-bdda-4215-b998-15220772e993
type: derived