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Windows Security 4697: Obfuscated PowerShell via rundll32 shell32 shellexec_rundll

Alert on Security EID 4697 where service installation references rundll32/shell32.dll to launch PowerShell.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Service
security
Author
Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-18
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 System Security Extension events where service execution references rundll32 (rundll32.exe) with shell32.dll and the shellexec_rundll entry, and the command line contains the string powershell. Attackers may use rundll32 to launch PowerShell in a way that blends into legitimate system behavior and can hinder straightforward command-line analysis. It relies on Windows Security audit EventID 4697 telemetry, matching the recorded service file name content and required substrings.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious PowerShell Invoke-Expression with Replace Obfuscation
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 Security 4697: Obfuscated PowerShell via rundll32 shell32 shellexec_rundll
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.