PowerShell Script Execution via Windows Service Creation (Service Control Manager)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1569.002Service Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

Identifies Windows Service creation events where the service ImagePath contains PowerShell executables (powershell.exe or pwsh). Creating a service to run a script can provide persistence and allow attackers to execute commands outside normal interactive sessions. Detection relies on System/Service Control Manager event telemetry, specifically EventID 7045, and matches the ImagePath content for PowerShell-related binaries.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1569.002 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious PsExec Service Named Sliver

PsExec Remote Service Execution on Target Host (via process_creation)

Renamed Procdump Tool Used for Dumping LSASS Process (via process_creation)

Suspicious Service Installation Masquerading as winupd

Suspicious PSexec Application Execution (via process_creation)

Malicious Metasploit PsExec Named Pipe Command Execution

Malicious PsExec Service Installation via PSEXESVC

Malicious NotPetya Payload Execution via Rundll32 Ordinal Export from Windows Directory

Suspicious Lateral Movement via PsExec Service (via process_creation)

PowerShell Script Execution via Windows Service Creation (Service Control Manager)

Pivot detection · T1569.002 · 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-executed-via-service-control-manager-event-id-7045-a2e5019d

title: PowerShell Script Execution via Windows Service Creation (Service Control Manager)
id: e43d1654-ed24-40ae-a89d-8d633fe84294
status: test
description: Identifies Windows Service creation events where the service ImagePath contains PowerShell executables (powershell.exe or pwsh). Creating a service to run a script can provide persistence and allow attackers to execute commands outside normal interactive sessions. Detection relies on System/Service Control Manager event telemetry, specifically EventID 7045, and matches the ImagePath content for PowerShell-related binaries.
references:
  - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/system/service_control_manager/win_system_powershell_script_installed_as_service.yml
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1569.002
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ImagePath|contains:
      - powershell
      - pwsh
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: a2e5019d-a658-4c6a-92bf-7197b54e2cae
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL