PowerShell Script with Token Impersonation Capabilities

Last updated 2 months ago on 2026-02-09
Created 4 years ago on 2022-08-17

About

Detects PowerShell scripts that references token manipulation and impersonation APIs such as CreateProcessWithTokenW, DuplicateToken/ImpersonateLoggedOnUser, or AdjustTokenPrivileges (SeDebugPrivilege). Attackers abuse token impersonation to elevate privileges and bypass access controls.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Privilege EscalationData Source: PowerShell LogsLanguage: kuery
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Privilege Escalation (TA0004)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Execution (TA0002)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Query (Kibana Query Language)
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
winlogbeat-*logs-windows.powershell*
Related Integrations

windows(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
event.category:process and host.os.type:windows and powershell.file.script_block_text:( "Invoke-TokenManipulation" or "ImpersonateNamedPipeClient" or "NtImpersonateThread" or ( "STARTUPINFOEX" and "UpdateProcThreadAttribute" ) or ( "AdjustTokenPrivileges" and "SeDebugPrivilege" ) or ( ("DuplicateToken" or "DuplicateTokenEx") and ("SetThreadToken" or "ImpersonateLoggedOnUser" or "CreateProcessWithTokenW" or "CreatePRocessAsUserW" or "CreateProcessAsUserA") ) ) and not ( user.id:("S-1-5-18" or "S-1-5-19" or "S-1-5-20") and file.directory: "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\\Downloads" ) and not powershell.file.script_block_text : ( "sentinelbreakpoints" and "Set-PSBreakpoint" and "PowerSploitIndicators" ) and not ( powershell.file.script_block_text : "New-HPPrivateToastNotificationLogo" and file.path : "C:\Program Files\HPConnect\hp-cmsl-wl\modules\HP.Notifications\HP.Notifications.psm1" )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect PowerShell Script with Token Impersonation Capabilities in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).