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Windows Process Command Line: Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscated PowerShell

Flags Windows command lines showing VAR++ launcher-style obfuscated PowerShell execution through Invoke-Expression patterns.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-13
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events whose command line contains patterns consistent with obfuscated PowerShell executed via a launcher-style construct (VAR++ LAUNCHER). Attackers use obfuscation to hinder inspection and automated detection, often while still invoking PowerShell functionality through nested variable substitution and execution. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and string matching within the command line for specific tokens and formatting indicators.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell
Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess
Suspicious PS1Bot PowerShell Payload Written to ProgramData (via file_event)
Malicious Non-Interactive Encoded PowerShell Stager (via process_creation)
Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Executing Substring of Dropped File
PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)
Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)
Suspicious PowerShell AES Decryption and Reflective Method Invocation in SolarMarker
Windows Process Command Line: Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscated PowerShell
Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.