Windows Process Creation: Obfuscated Cmd Uses clip.exe to Execute PowerShell

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows command-line executions that invoke clip.exe in combination with obfuscated PowerShell activity. Attackers often use living-off-the-land binaries and command obfuscation to download or execute PowerShell while reducing detection clarity. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and matches on command-line strings containing cmd switches, clipboard/clip.exe usage, and PowerShell-style formatting markers.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Obfuscated Cmd Uses clip.exe to Execute PowerShell

Pivot detection · T1027 · 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-process-creation-obfuscated-clip-exe-used-to-execute-powershell-b222df08

title: "Windows Process Creation: Obfuscated Cmd Uses clip.exe to Execute PowerShell"
id: abf72172-1c8a-4635-ac06-9153c02bf756
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows command-line executions that invoke clip.exe in combination with obfuscated PowerShell activity. Attackers often use living-off-the-land binaries and command obfuscation to download or execute PowerShell while reducing detection clarity. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and matches on command-line strings containing cmd switches, clipboard/clip.exe usage, and PowerShell-style formatting markers.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_invoke_obfuscation_clip.yml
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2022-11-17
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - cmd
      - "&&"
      - "clipboard]::"
      - -f
    CommandLine|contains:
      - /c
      - /r
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b222df08-0e07-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
    type: derived

Convert

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