huntrule

Windows System: Service Control Manager runs command with obfuscated PowerShell keywords via set and stdin

Alerts on service creation where ImagePath includes obfuscation-like command chaining with environment/invoke/input strings.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
system
Author
Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-12
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 Control Manager (Event ID 7045) instances where the configured ImagePath contains command chaining with multiple 'set' statements and includes keywords such as 'environment', 'invoke', and 'input', consistent with obfuscated PowerShell-style execution patterns delivered through stdin-like inputs. Attackers may use this technique to obscure script intent and reduce detection by embedding operations in environment/variable setup and chained command segments. The detection relies on System service creation telemetry, specifically the ImagePath field from Event ID 7045.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
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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 System: Service Control Manager runs command with obfuscated PowerShell keywords via set and stdin
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.