Windows Process: SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe Executes PowerShell via PowerShell-encoded command
Alerts when SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe is launched with a command-line pattern indicative of PowerShell code execution.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-07-12
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process creation events where SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe is launched with a command line containing the PowerShell-encoded pattern "n; ". Attackers may use this signed Windows binary to run arbitrary PowerShell commands under a trusted process context. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, including Image/OriginalFileName and CommandLine content matching.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1218/T1218.md
- lolbas-project.github.iohttps://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Syncappvpublishingserver/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_syncappvpublishingserver_execute_psh.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows Process: SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe Executes PowerShell via PowerShell-encoded command"
id: fba39b26-a16b-444a-aa78-8dae9cd323b5
related:
- id: fde7929d-8beb-4a4c-b922-be9974671667
type: obsolete
- id: fbd7c32d-db2a-4418-b92c-566eb8911133
type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe is launched with a command line containing the PowerShell-encoded pattern "n; ". Attackers may use this signed Windows binary to run arbitrary PowerShell commands under a trusted process context. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, including Image/OriginalFileName and CommandLine content matching.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1218/T1218.md
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Syncappvpublishingserver/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_syncappvpublishingserver_execute_psh.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-07-12
modified: 2022-10-04
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1218
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe
- OriginalFileName: syncappvpublishingserver.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains: '"n; '
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- App-V clients
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1