Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock Use of Remove-Item to Delete Files or Folders

Alerts on PowerShell ScriptBlockText containing Remove-Item/del/rm/rd-style -Path deletion commands.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v5

Product: windows
Category: ps_script
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-01-15
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1070.004File Deletion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags PowerShell ScriptBlock content that appears to delete files or folders by matching command aliases and parameters tied to removal operations. Attackers can use Remove-Item (and common aliases like del/erase/rm) with -Path and -Recurse to remove evidence or targeted data. It relies on ScriptBlock logging telemetry that records the executed PowerShell ScriptBlock text.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1070.004 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Self-Delete Chain via Loopback Ping and File Deletion (via process_creation)

Suspicious Anti-Recovery Zeroing via fsutil setZeroData (via process_creation)

Suspicious Zone.Identifier Mark-of-the-Web Removal (via process_creation)

Suspicious Self-Deletion of Dropper via Command Line

Suspicious Self-Deletion via Choice Timer and Del Command via Cmd (via process_creation)

Suspicious Jump List AutomaticDestinations Deletion via Cmd (via process_creation)

Suspicious Self-Delete via cmd choice Timeout and Del

Suspicious Ping Loopback Delay Followed by File Deletion for Evasion

Suspicious Alternate Data Stream Self-Deletion via process_creation

Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock Use of Remove-Item to Delete Files or Folders

Pivot detection · T1070.004 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-scriptblock-remove-item-used-to-delete-files-or-folders-b8af5f36

title: Windows PowerShell ScriptBlock Use of Remove-Item to Delete Files or Folders
id: 3982e1de-62a5-4ba1-a023-4e701de03476
status: test
description: This rule flags PowerShell ScriptBlock content that appears to delete files or folders by matching command aliases and parameters tied to removal operations. Attackers can use Remove-Item (and common aliases like del/erase/rm) with -Path and -Recurse to remove evidence or targeted data. It relies on ScriptBlock logging telemetry that records the executed PowerShell ScriptBlock text.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1070.004/T1070.004.md
  - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/Remove-Item?view=powershell-5.1&viewFallbackFrom=powershell-7
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_remove_item_path.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-15
modified: 2022-03-17
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1070.004
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_script
  definition: "Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled"
detection:
  selection:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
      - "Remove-Item -Path "
      - "del -Path "
      - "erase -Path "
      - "rd -Path "
      - "ri -Path "
      - "rm -Path "
      - "rmdir -Path "
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate PowerShell scripts
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b8af5f36-1361-4ebe-9e76-e36128d947bf
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL