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Windows Security Log: Obfuscated cmd Execution of clip.exe via PowerShell Clipboard Patterns (EID 4697)

Alerts on service creation (Windows 4697) with CLIP.exe command-line patterns that indicate obfuscated PowerShell execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
security
Author
Jonathan Cheong, 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 service-creation events (Security EID 4697) where the configured service binary path contains command-line indicators consistent with executing clip.exe in an obfuscated way and invoking PowerShell clipboard-related calls. Such behavior can enable stealthy execution and payload delivery by blending script execution into service installation activity. The detection relies on the Security log field ServiceFileName and matches specific substrings present in the service binary path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
Malicious FIN7 Powertrash Loader Execution via Obfuscated PowerShell (via process_creation)
Suspicious XOR Obfuscated PowerShell from ClickFix Distribution
Suspicious PowerShell Executing Code from Environment Variable (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory Runspace Execution via PowerShell Script Block
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Using Base64 Stream Decompression Routines (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell In-Memory Execution with AES Decryption
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Command Execution
Suspicious PEAKLIGHT Memory-Only PowerShell Downloader Flags (via process_creation)
Obfuscated PowerShell Script: Indirect Cmdlet Execution via ExportedCommands Array Index
Windows Security Log: Obfuscated cmd Execution of clip.exe via PowerShell Clipboard Patterns (EID 4697)
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.