Deprecated - PowerShell Script with Remote Execution Capabilities via WinRM

[metadata]
creation_date = "2023/07/12"
integration = ["windows"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/03/24"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
Identifies the use of Cmdlets and methods related to remote execution activities using WinRM. Attackers can abuse WinRM
to perform lateral movement using built-in tools.
"""
from = "now-119m"
index = ["winlogbeat-*", "logs-windows.powershell*"]
interval = "60m"
language = "kuery"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Deprecated - PowerShell Script with Remote Execution Capabilities via WinRM"
references = [
    "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/006/",
    "https://github.com/cobbr/SharpSploit/blob/master/SharpSploit/LateralMovement/PowerShellRemoting.cs",
    "https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/blob/main/empire/server/modules/powershell/lateral_movement/invoke_psremoting.py",
]
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "0abf0c5b-62dd-48d2-ac4e-6b43fe3a6e83"
setup = """## Setup

PowerShell Script Block Logging must be enabled to generate the events used by this rule (e.g., 4104).
Setup instructions: https://ela.st/powershell-logging-setup
"""
severity = "low"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Lateral Movement",
    "Tactic: Execution",
    "Data Source: PowerShell Logs",
    "Rule Type: BBR",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "query"

query = '''
event.category:process and host.os.type:windows and
  powershell.file.script_block_text : (
    ("Invoke-WmiMethod" or "Invoke-Command" or "Enter-PSSession") and "ComputerName"
  ) and
  not user.id : "S-1-5-18" and
  not file.directory : (
    "C:\\Program Files\\LogicMonitor\\Agent\\tmp" or
    "C:\\Program Files\\WindowsPowerShell\\Modules\\icinga-powershell-framework\\cache" or
    "C:\\Program Files\\WindowsPowerShell\\Modules\\SmartCardTools\\1.2.2"
  ) and not
  powershell.file.script_block_text : (
    "Export-ModuleMember -Function @('Invoke-Expression''Invoke-Command')" and
    "function Invoke-Command {"
  )
'''


[[rule.filters]]

[rule.filters.meta]
negate = true
[rule.filters.query.wildcard."file.path"]
case_insensitive = true
value = "?:\\\\Program Files\\\\WindowsPowerShell\\\\Modules\\\\dbatools\\\\*\\\\allcommands.ps1"
[[rule.filters]]

[rule.filters.meta]
negate = true
[rule.filters.query.wildcard."file.directory"]
case_insensitive = true
value = "?:\\\\Program Files\\\\Microsoft\\\\Exchange Server\\\\*\\\\bin"
[[rule.filters]]

[rule.filters.meta]
negate = true
[rule.filters.query.wildcard."file.directory"]
case_insensitive = true
value = "?:\\\\ExchangeServer\\\\bin*"
[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1021"
name = "Remote Services"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1021.006"
name = "Windows Remote Management"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/006/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0008"
name = "Lateral Movement"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/"

[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1047"
name = "Windows Management Instrumentation"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1047/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1059"
name = "Command and Scripting Interpreter"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.001"
name = "PowerShell"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0002"
name = "Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"