Windows Service Creation of PowerShell/Pwsh Scripts (Security EID 4697)

Alerts on service creation events where the service executable name includes powershell or pwsh.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Service: security
Author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-06
Updated: 2026-07-31

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

This rule identifies Windows services created with service binary paths or filenames containing 'powershell' or 'pwsh' using Security audit Event ID 4697. Attackers may use PowerShell to run arbitrary code persistently under the Windows Service control, blending into legitimate service activity. It relies on Security log telemetry for service installation events and matches on the service file name content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1569.002 — drag to rearrange

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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)

Windows Service Creation of PowerShell/Pwsh Scripts (Security EID 4697)

Pivot detection · T1569.002 · 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-installed-as-a-service-event-id-4697-2a926e6a

title: Windows Service Creation of PowerShell/Pwsh Scripts (Security EID 4697)
id: 6bd55e67-0359-4a1b-92cb-6e76dabcc3fe
related:
  - id: a2e5019d-a658-4c6a-92bf-7197b54e2cae
    type: derived
  - id: 2a926e6a-4b81-4011-8a96-e36cc8c04302
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows services created with service binary paths or filenames containing 'powershell' or 'pwsh' using Security audit Event ID 4697. Attackers may use PowerShell to run arbitrary code persistently under the Windows Service control, blending into legitimate service activity. It relies on Security log telemetry for service installation events and matches on the service file name content.
references:
  - https://speakerdeck.com/heirhabarov/hunting-for-powershell-abuse
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_powershell_script_installed_as_service.yml
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1569.002
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
  definition: The 'System Security Extension' audit subcategory need to be enabled to log the EID 4697
detection:
  selection:
    EventID: 4697
    ServiceFileName|contains:
      - powershell
      - pwsh
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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