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

Analysis Detection

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 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

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Malicious Non-Interactive Encoded PowerShell Stager (via process_creation)

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PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)

Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)

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

Pivot detection · T1027 · 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-process-creation-obfuscated-powershell-via-var-launcher-invoke-obfuscati-e9f55347

title: "Windows Process Command Line: Detect VAR++ LAUNCHER Obfuscated PowerShell"
id: 16c3fb78-a52e-4374-9f54-136a9ce2c742
status: test
description: 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.
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_via_var.yml
author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2022-11-16
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - "&&set"
      - cmd
      - /c
      - -f
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "{0}"
      - "{1}"
      - "{2}"
      - "{3}"
      - "{4}"
      - "{5}"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: e9f55347-2928-4c06-88e5-1a7f8169942e
    type: derived

Convert

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