Windows DISM Enables PowerShell Web Access Feature via Command Line

Flags DISM executions that enable the WindowsPowerShellWebAccess feature using /online and /enable-feature parameters.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Michael Haag (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2024-09-03
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies process executions of dism.exe where the command line enables the WindowsPowerShellWebAccess feature with /online /enable-feature parameters. Attackers may use this to expose PowerShell remotely and establish persistence or remote access capability. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the DISM image path and the full command line arguments.

Reporting behind it

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Windows DISM Enables PowerShell Web Access Feature via Command Line

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 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-web-access-enabled-via-dism-7e8f2d3b

title: Windows DISM Enables PowerShell Web Access Feature via Command Line
id: 237512ea-7cb0-4776-b601-5815b2f88f96
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of dism.exe where the command line enables the WindowsPowerShellWebAccess feature with /online /enable-feature parameters. Attackers may use this to expose PowerShell remotely and establish persistence or remote access capability. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the DISM image path and the full command line arguments.
references:
  - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/dism/enable-windowsoptionalfeature
  - https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa24-241a
  - https://gist.github.com/MHaggis/7e67b659af9148fa593cf2402edebb41
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_dism_enable_powershell_web_access_feature.yml
author: Michael Haag, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-09-03
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \dism.exe
    - OriginalFileName: DISM.EXE
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - WindowsPowerShellWebAccess
      - /online
      - /enable-feature
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate PowerShell Web Access installations by administrators
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 7e8f2d3b-9c1a-4f67-b9e8-8d9006e0e51f
    type: derived

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