Sigma rule: Import New Module Via PowerShell CommandLine

Rule

Title

Import New Module Via PowerShell CommandLine

Status

test

Level

low

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Date

2023-05-09

Modified

2023-12-01

File

rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_powershell_import_module.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects usage of the "Import-Module" cmdlet in order to add new Cmdlets to the current PowerShell session

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
          - '\powershell.exe'
          - '\pwsh.exe'
    - OriginalFileName:
          - 'PowerShell.EXE'
          - 'pwsh.dll'
selection_cmdlet:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'Import-Module '
        - 'ipmo '
filter_main_vsstudio:
    ParentImage|contains:
        - ':\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_'
        - ':\Windows\System32\cmd.exe'
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ':\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\'
        - 'Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll'
condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Depending on the environement, many legitimate scripts will import modules inline. This rule is targeted for hunting purposes.

Tags

• attack.execution
• detection.threat-hunting

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/import-module?view=powershell-7.3
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/import-module?view=powershell-5.1

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_powershell_import_module.yml