Elastic Security Detection Rules

Windows Script Executing PowerShell

Last updated 5 months ago on 2025-03-20
Created 6 years ago on 2020-02-18

About

Identifies a PowerShell process launched by either cscript.exe or wscript.exe. Observing Windows scripting processes executing a PowerShell script, may be indicative of malicious activity.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Initial AccessTactic: ExecutionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: SentinelOneLanguage: eql
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

Initial Access (TA0001)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Phishing (T1566)(opens in a new tab or window)

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

↳ Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)(opens in a new tab or window)

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

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
winlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

m365_defender(opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
  process.parent.name : ("cscript.exe", "wscript.exe") and process.name : "powershell.exe" and
  not (
    process.parent.name : "wscript.exe" and
    process.parent.args : "?:\\ProgramData\\intune-drive-mapping-generator\\IntuneDriveMapping-VBSHelper.vbs" and
    process.parent.args : "?:\\ProgramData\\intune-drive-mapping-generator\\DriveMapping.ps1"
  )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Windows Script Executing PowerShell 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(opens in a new tab or window).