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

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 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

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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)

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

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-system-event-7045-service-control-manager-runs-imagepath-with-invoke-env-487c7524

title: "Windows System: Service Control Manager runs command with obfuscated PowerShell keywords via set and stdin"
id: 835e04a3-3c28-48a5-8835-d540fe2f7927
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/system/service_control_manager/win_system_invoke_obfuscation_via_stdin_services.yml
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ImagePath|contains|all:
      - set
      - "&&"
    ImagePath|contains:
      - environment
      - invoke
      - input
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 487c7524-f892-4054-b263-8a0ace63fc25
    type: derived

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