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

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 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

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Suspicious PS1Bot PowerShell Payload Written to ProgramData (via file_event)

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)

Suspicious PowerShell AES Decryption and Reflective Method Invocation in SolarMarker

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

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-security-4697-clip-exe-obfuscated-powershell-via-cmd-and-clipboard-strin-4edf51e1

title: "Windows Security Log: Obfuscated cmd Execution of clip.exe via PowerShell Clipboard Patterns (EID 4697)"
id: 7360fc77-bad8-4f2f-a490-6578ecfe9e06
related:
  - id: f7385ee2-0e0c-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
    type: derived
  - id: 4edf51e1-cb83-4e1a-bc39-800e396068e3
    type: derived
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_invoke_obfuscation_clip_services_security.yml
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2022-11-27
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
  definition: The 'System Security Extension' audit subcategory need to be enabled to log the EID 4697
detection:
  selection:
    EventID: 4697
    ServiceFileName|contains|all:
      - cmd
      - "&&"
      - "clipboard]::"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

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