Sigma rule: Powershell XML Execute Command

Rule

Title

Powershell XML Execute Command

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

frack113

Date

2022-01-19

Modified

2023-01-19

File

rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_xml_iex.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
PowerShell is a powerful interactive command-line interface and scripting environment included in the Windows operating system. (Citation: TechNet PowerShell)
Adversaries can use PowerShell to perform a number of actions, including discovery of information and execution of code

Log source

product

windows

category

ps_script

definition

Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled

Detection

selection_xml:
    ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
        - 'New-Object'
        - 'System.Xml.XmlDocument'
        - '.Load'
selection_exec:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
        - 'IEX '
        - 'Invoke-Expression '
        - 'Invoke-Command '
        - 'ICM -'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate administrative script

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.t1059.001

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1059.001

References

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1059.001/T1059.001.md#atomic-test-8---powershell-xml-requests

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