Sigma rule: Potential Remote PowerShell Session Initiated

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-803cffbd7943, updated 2024-02-02T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Potential Remote PowerShell Session Initiated
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
Date
2019-09-12
Modified
2024-02-02
File
rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_susp_remote_powershell_session.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects a process that initiated a network connection over ports 5985 or 5986 from a non-network service account.
This could potentially indicates a remote PowerShell connection.

Log source

product
windows
category
network_connection

Detection

selection:
    DestinationPort:
        - 5985
        - 5986
    Initiated: 'true' # only matches of the initiating system can be evaluated
    SourceIsIpv6: 'false'
filter_main_service_users:
    - User|contains: # covers many language settings for Network Service. Please expand
          - 'NETWORK SERVICE'
          - 'NETZWERKDIENST'
          - 'SERVICIO DE RED'
          - 'SERVIZIO DI RETE'
    - User|contains|all:
          - 'SERVICE R'
          - 'SEAU'
filter_main_localhost:
    SourceIp:
        - '::1'
        - '127.0.0.1'
    DestinationIp:
        - '::1'
        - '127.0.0.1'
filter_optional_avast:
    Image:
        - 'C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe'
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Avast Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Legitimate usage of remote PowerShell, e.g. remote administration and monitoring.
  • Network Service user name of a not-covered localization

Tags

  • attack.execution
  • attack.t1059.001
  • attack.lateral-movement
  • attack.t1021.006

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

References

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/network_connection/net_connection_win_susp_remote_powershell_session.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Potential Remote PowerShell Session Initiated" by Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_susp_remote_powershell_session.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Potential Remote PowerShell Session Initiated",
entity page, dataset version ref-803cffbd7943, updated 2024-02-02T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/c539afac-c12a-46ed-b1bd-5a5567c9f045 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule c539afac-c12a-46ed-b1bd-5a5567c9f045, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.