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Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

ID Name
T1059.001 PowerShell
T1059.002 AppleScript
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell
T1059.004 Unix Shell
T1059.005 Visual Basic
T1059.006 Python
T1059.007 JavaScript
T1059.008 Network Device CLI

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. [1] Adversaries can use PowerShell to perform a number of actions, including discovery of information and execution of code. Examples include the Start-Process cmdlet which can be used to run an executable and the Invoke-Command cmdlet which runs a command locally or on a remote computer (though administrator permissions are required to use PowerShell to connect to remote systems).

PowerShell may also be used to download and run executables from the Internet, which can be executed from disk or in memory without touching disk.

A number of PowerShell-based offensive testing tools are available, including Empire, PowerSploit, PoshC2, and PSAttack.[2]

PowerShell commands/scripts can also be executed without directly invoking the powershell.exe binary through interfaces to PowerShell's underlying System.Management.Automation assembly DLL exposed through the .NET framework and Windows Common Language Interface (CLI). [3][4][5]

ID: T1059.001
Sub-technique of:  T1059
ⓘ
Tactic: Execution
ⓘ
Platforms: Windows
ⓘ
Permissions Required: Administrator, User
ⓘ
Supports Remote:  Yes
Contributors: Praetorian
Version: 1.1
Created: 09 March 2020
Last Modified: 28 May 2021
Provided by LAYER 8

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0622 AppleSeed

AppleSeed has the ability to execute its payload via PowerShell.[6]
G0073 APT19

APT19 used PowerShell commands to execute payloads.[7]
G0007 APT28

APT28 downloads and executes PowerShell scripts and performs PowerShell commands.[8][9][10]
G0016 APT29

APT29 has used encoded PowerShell scripts uploaded to CozyCar installations to download and install SeaDuke. APT29 also used PowerShell to create new tasks on remote machines, identify configuration settings, evade defenses, exfiltrate data, and to execute other commands.[11][12][13][14][15]
G0022 APT3

APT3 has used PowerShell on victim systems to download and run payloads after exploitation.[16]
G0050 APT32

APT32 has used PowerShell-based tools, PowerShell one-liners, and shellcode loaders for execution.[17][18][19]
G0064 APT33

APT33 has utilized PowerShell to download files from the C2 server and run various scripts. [20][21]
G0082 APT38

APT38 has used PowerShell to execute commands and other operational tasks.[22]
G0087 APT39

APT39 has used PowerShell to execute malicious code.[23][24]
G0096 APT41

APT41 leveraged PowerShell to deploy malware families in victims’ environments.[25][26]
S0129 AutoIt backdoor

AutoIt backdoor downloads a PowerShell script that decodes to a typical shellcode loader.[27]
S0234 Bandook

Bandook has used PowerShell loaders as part of execution.[28]
S0534 Bazar

Bazar can execute a PowerShell script received from C2.[29][30]
S0521 BloodHound

BloodHound can use PowerShell to pull Active Directory information from the target environment.[31]
G0108 Blue Mockingbird

Blue Mockingbird has used PowerShell reverse TCP shells to issue interactive commands over a network connection.[32]
S0360 BONDUPDATER

BONDUPDATER is written in PowerShell.[33][34]
G0060 BRONZE BUTLER

BRONZE BUTLER has used PowerShell for execution.[35]
G0114 Chimera

Chimera has used PowerShell scripts to execute malicious payloads and the DSInternals PowerShell module to make use of Active Directory features.[36][37]

G0080 Cobalt Group

Cobalt Group has used powershell.exe to download and execute scripts.[38][39][40][41][42][43]
S0154 Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike can execute a payload on a remote host with PowerShell. This technique does not write any data to disk.[44][45] Cobalt Strike can also use PowerSploit and other scripting frameworks to perform execution.[46][47][48][49]
S0126 ComRAT

ComRAT has used PowerShell to load itself every time a user logs in to the system. ComRAT can execute PowerShell scripts loaded into memory or from the file system.[50][51]
S0591 ConnectWise

ConnectWise can be used to execute PowerShell commands on target machines.[52]
G0052 CopyKittens

CopyKittens has used PowerShell Empire.[53]
S0488 CrackMapExec

CrackMapExec can execute PowerShell commands via WMI.[54]
S0625 Cuba

Cuba has been dropped onto systems and used for lateral movement via obfuscated PowerShell scripts.[55]
G0079 DarkHydrus

DarkHydrus leveraged PowerShell to download and execute additional scripts for execution.[56][57]
G0105 DarkVishnya

DarkVishnya used PowerShell to create shellcode loaders.[58]
G0009 Deep Panda

Deep Panda has used PowerShell scripts to download and execute programs in memory, without writing to disk.[59]
S0354 Denis

Denis has a version written in PowerShell.[19]

S0186 DownPaper

DownPaper uses PowerShell for execution.[60]
G0074 Dragonfly 2.0

Dragonfly 2.0 used PowerShell scripts for execution.[61][62][63]
S0554 Egregor

Egregor has used an encoded PowerShell command by a service created by Cobalt Strike for lateral movement.[64]
S0367 Emotet

Emotet has used Powershell to retrieve the malicious payload and download additional resources like Mimikatz. [65][66][67][68][69]
S0363 Empire

Empire leverages PowerShell for the majority of its client-side agent tasks. Empire also contains the ability to conduct PowerShell remoting with the Invoke-PSRemoting module.[70][71]
S0512 FatDuke

FatDuke has the ability to execute PowerShell scripts.[72]
G0051 FIN10

FIN10 uses PowerShell for execution as well as PowerShell Empire to establish persistence.[73][70]
G0037 FIN6

FIN6 has used PowerShell to gain access to merchant's networks, and a Metasploit PowerShell module to download and execute shellcode and to set up a local listener.[74][75][76]
G0046 FIN7

FIN7 used a PowerShell script to launch shellcode that retrieved an additional payload.[77][78]
G0061 FIN8

FIN8's malicious spearphishing payloads are executed as PowerShell. FIN8 has also used PowerShell for lateral movement and credential access.[79][80][81]
G0117 Fox Kitten

Fox Kitten has used PowerShell scripts to access credential data.[82]
G0101 Frankenstein

Frankenstein has used PowerShell to run a series of base64-encoded commands, that acted as a stager and enumerated hosts.[83]

G0093 GALLIUM

GALLIUM used PowerShell for execution to assist in lateral movement as well as for dumping credentials stored on compromised machines.[84]
G0084 Gallmaker

Gallmaker used PowerShell to download additional payloads and for execution.[85]
G0115 GOLD SOUTHFIELD

GOLD SOUTHFIELD has staged and executed PowerShell scripts on compromised hosts.[86]
G0078 Gorgon Group

Gorgon Group malware can use PowerShell commands to download and execute a payload and open a decoy document on the victim’s machine.[87]
S0417 GRIFFON

GRIFFON has used PowerShell to execute the Meterpreter downloader TinyMet.[88]
G0125 HAFNIUM

HAFNIUM has used the Exchange Power Shell module Set-OabVirtualDirectoryPowerShell to export mailbox data.[89][90]
S0151 HALFBAKED

HALFBAKED can execute PowerShell scripts.[77]
S0037 HAMMERTOSS

HAMMERTOSS is known to use PowerShell.[91]
S0499 Hancitor

Hancitor has used PowerShell to execute commands.[92]
S0170 Helminth

One version of Helminth uses a PowerShell script.[93]
G0100 Inception

Inception has used PowerShell to execute malicious commands and payloads.[94][95]
G0119 Indrik Spider

Indrik Spider has used PowerShell Empire for execution of malware.[96][97]

S0389 JCry

JCry has used PowerShell to execute payloads.[98]
S0648 JSS Loader

JSS Loader has the ability to download and execute PowerShell scripts.[99]
S0387 KeyBoy

KeyBoy uses PowerShell commands to download and execute payloads.[100]
S0526 KGH_SPY

KGH_SPY can execute PowerShell commands on the victim's machine.[101]
G0094 Kimsuky

Kimsuky has executed a variety of PowerShell scripts.[102][103]
S0356 KONNI

KONNI used PowerShell to download and execute a specific 64-bit version of the malware.[104]
G0065 Leviathan

Leviathan has used PowerShell for execution.[105][106][107][108]
S0447 Lokibot

Lokibot has used PowerShell commands embedded inside batch scripts.[109]

G0059 Magic Hound

Magic Hound has used PowerShell for execution and privilege escalation.[110][111]
G0045 menuPass

menuPass uses PowerSploit to inject shellcode into PowerShell.[112][113]
S0553 MoleNet

MoleNet can use PowerShell to set persistence.[114]

G0021 Molerats

Molerats used PowerShell implants on target machines.[115]
S0256 Mosquito

Mosquito can launch PowerShell Scripts.[116]
G0069 MuddyWater

MuddyWater has used PowerShell for execution.[117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124]
G0129 Mustang Panda

Mustang Panda has used malicious PowerShell scripts to enable execution.[125][126]
S0457 Netwalker

Netwalker has been written in PowerShell and executed directly in memory, avoiding detection.[127][128]
S0198 NETWIRE

The NETWIRE binary has been executed via PowerShell script.[129]
S0385 njRAT

njRAT has executed PowerShell commands via auto-run registry key persistence.[130]
G0133 Nomadic Octopus

Nomadic Octopus has used PowerShell for execution.[131]

G0049 OilRig

OilRig has used PowerShell scripts for execution, including use of a macro to run a PowerShell command to decode file contents.[33][132][133]
G0116 Operation Wocao

Operation Wocao has used PowerShell on compromised systems.[134]
S0352 OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D uses PowerShell scripts.[135]
G0040 Patchwork

Patchwork used PowerSploit to download payloads, run a reverse shell, and execute malware on the victim's machine.[136][137]
S0517 Pillowmint

Pillowmint has used a PowerShell script to install a shim database.[138]

G0033 Poseidon Group

The Poseidon Group's Information Gathering Tool (IGT) includes PowerShell components.[139]
S0150 POSHSPY

POSHSPY uses PowerShell to execute various commands, one to execute its payload.[140]
S0441 PowerShower

PowerShower is a backdoor written in PowerShell.[94]
S0145 POWERSOURCE

POWERSOURCE is a PowerShell backdoor.[141][142]
S0194 PowerSploit

PowerSploit modules are written in and executed via PowerShell.[143][144]
S0393 PowerStallion

PowerStallion uses PowerShell loops to iteratively check for available commands in its OneDrive C2 server.[145]
S0223 POWERSTATS

POWERSTATS uses PowerShell for obfuscation and execution.[146][121][147]
S0371 POWERTON

POWERTON is written in PowerShell.[148]
S0184 POWRUNER

POWRUNER is written in PowerShell.[33]
S0613 PS1

PS1 can utilize a PowerShell loader.[149]
S0196 PUNCHBUGGY

PUNCHBUGGY has used PowerShell scripts.[150]
S0192 Pupy

Pupy has a module for loading and executing PowerShell scripts.[151]
S0583 Pysa

Pysa has used Powershell scripts to deploy its ransomware.[152]

S0650 QakBot

QakBot can use PowerShell to download and execute payloads.[153]
S0269 QUADAGENT

QUADAGENT uses PowerShell scripts for execution.[154]
S0241 RATANKBA

There is a variant of RATANKBA that uses a PowerShell script instead of the traditional PE form.[155][156]
S0511 RegDuke

RegDuke can extract and execute PowerShell scripts from C2 communications.[72]
S0379 Revenge RAT

Revenge RAT uses the PowerShell command Reflection.Assembly to load itself into memory to aid in execution.[157]
S0496 REvil

REvil has used PowerShell to delete volume shadow copies and download files.[158][159][160][161]
S0270 RogueRobin

RogueRobin uses a command prompt to run a PowerShell script from Excel.[56] To assist in establishing persistence, RogueRobin creates %APPDATA%\OneDrive.bat and saves the following string to it:powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -exec bypass -File "%APPDATA%\OneDrive.ps1".[162][56]
G0034 Sandworm Team

Sandworm Team has used PowerShell scripts to run a credential harvesting tool in memory to evade defenses.[163][164]

S0053 SeaDuke

SeaDuke uses a module to execute Mimikatz with PowerShell to perform Pass the Ticket.[13]
S0382 ServHelper

ServHelper has the ability to execute a PowerShell script to get information from the infected host.[165]
S0546 SharpStage

SharpStage can execute arbitrary commands with PowerShell.[114][166]
S0450 SHARPSTATS

SHARPSTATS has the ability to employ a custom PowerShell script.[147]
G0121 Sidewinder

Sidewinder has used PowerShell to drop and execute malware loaders.[167]
G0091 Silence

Silence has used PowerShell to download and execute payloads.[168][169]
S0649 SMOKEDHAM

SMOKEDHAM can execute Powershell commands sent from its C2 server.[170]
S0273 Socksbot

Socksbot can write and execute PowerShell scripts.[137]
S0390 SQLRat

SQLRat has used PowerShell to create a Meterpreter session.[171]
G0038 Stealth Falcon

Stealth Falcon malware uses PowerShell commands to perform various functions, including gathering system information via WMI and executing commands from its C2 server.[172]
S0491 StrongPity

StrongPity can use PowerShell to add files to the Windows Defender exclusions list.[173]
G0062 TA459

TA459 has used PowerShell for execution of a payload.[174]
G0092 TA505

TA505 has used PowerShell to download and execute malware and reconnaissance scripts.[175][176][177][178]
G0139 TeamTNT

TeamTNT has executed PowerShell commands in batch scripts.[179]
G0088 TEMP.Veles

TEMP.Veles has used a publicly-available PowerShell-based tool, WMImplant.[180] The group has also used PowerShell to perform Timestomping.[181]
G0027 Threat Group-3390

Threat Group-3390 has used PowerShell for execution.[182]
G0076 Thrip

Thrip leveraged PowerShell to run commands to download payloads, traverse the compromised networks, and carry out reconnaissance.[183]
G0131 Tonto Team

Tonto Team has used PowerShell to download additional payloads.[184]
S0266 TrickBot

TrickBot has been known to use PowerShell to download new payloads, open documents, and upload data to command and control servers. [185]
G0010 Turla

Turla has used PowerShell to execute commands/scripts, in some cases via a custom executable or code from Empire's PSInject.[186][145][187] Turla has also used PowerShell scripts to load and execute malware in memory.
S0386 Ursnif

Ursnif droppers have used PowerShell in download cradles to download and execute the malware's full executable payload.[188]
S0476 Valak

Valak has used PowerShell to download additional modules.[189]
S0514 WellMess

WellMess can execute PowerShell scripts received from C2.[190][191]
G0090 WIRTE

WIRTE has used PowerShell for script execution.[192]
G0102 Wizard Spider

Wizard Spider has used macros to execute PowerShell scripts to download malware on victim's machines.[193] It has also used PowerShell to execute commands and move laterally through a victim network.[194][195][196]
S0341 Xbash

Xbash can use scripts to invoke PowerShell to download a malicious PE executable or PE DLL for execution.[197]
S0330 Zeus Panda

Zeus Panda uses PowerShell to download and execute the payload.[198]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1049 Antivirus/Antimalware

Anti-virus can be used to automatically quarantine suspicious files.

M1045 Code Signing

Set PowerShell execution policy to execute only signed scripts.
M1042 Disable or Remove Feature or Program

It may be possible to remove PowerShell from systems when not needed, but a review should be performed to assess the impact to an environment, since it could be in use for many legitimate purposes and administrative functions.

Disable/restrict the WinRM Service to help prevent uses of PowerShell for remote execution.
M1038 Execution Prevention

Use application control where appropriate.
M1026 Privileged Account Management

When PowerShell is necessary, restrict PowerShell execution policy to administrators. Be aware that there are methods of bypassing the PowerShell execution policy, depending on environment configuration.[199]

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component
DS0017 Command Command Execution
DS0011 Module Module Load
DS0009 Process Process Creation
DS0012 Script Script Execution

If proper execution policy is set, adversaries will likely be able to define their own execution policy if they obtain administrator or system access, either through the Registry or at the command line. This change in policy on a system may be a way to detect malicious use of PowerShell. If PowerShell is not used in an environment, then simply looking for PowerShell execution may detect malicious activity.

Monitor for loading and/or execution of artifacts associated with PowerShell specific assemblies, such as System.Management.Automation.dll (especially to unusual process names/locations).[3][4]

It is also beneficial to turn on PowerShell logging to gain increased fidelity in what occurs during execution (which is applied to .NET invocations). [200] PowerShell 5.0 introduced enhanced logging capabilities, and some of those features have since been added to PowerShell 4.0. Earlier versions of PowerShell do not have many logging features.[201] An organization can gather PowerShell execution details in a data analytic platform to supplement it with other data.

References

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