PowerShell Core DLL Loaded By Non PowerShell Process

Status: test
Severity: medium
Log source: product windows, category image_load
Author: Tom Kern, oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Tim Shelton, Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
Source: github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects loading of essential DLLs used by PowerShell by non-PowerShell process. Detects behavior similar to meterpreter's "load powershell" extension.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Tactic	Techniques
Execution	`T1059.001` Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

Event coverage

Provider	Event	Title
Sysmon	Event ID 7	Image loaded

Rule body yaml

title: PowerShell Core DLL Loaded By Non PowerShell Process
id: 092bc4b9-3d1d-43b4-a6b4-8c8acd83522f
related:
    - id: 867613fb-fa60-4497-a017-a82df74a172c
      type: obsolete
    - id: fe6e002f-f244-4278-9263-20e4b593827f
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: |
    Detects loading of essential DLLs used by PowerShell by non-PowerShell process.
    Detects behavior similar to meterpreter's "load powershell" extension.
references:
    - https://adsecurity.org/?p=2921
    - https://github.com/p3nt4/PowerShdll
author: Tom Kern, oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Tim Shelton, Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
date: 2019-11-14
modified: 2025-10-07
tags:
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.execution
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Description: 'System.Management.Automation'
        - OriginalFileName: 'System.Management.Automation.dll'
        - ImageLoaded|endswith:
              - '\System.Management.Automation.dll'
              - '\System.Management.Automation.ni.dll'
    filter_main_powershell:
        Image:
            - 'C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7-preview\pwsh.exe' # PowerShell 7 preview
            - 'C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe' # PowerShell 7
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
    filter_main_pwsh_preview:
        Image|contains:
            - 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview'
            - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview'
        Image|endswith: '\pwsh.exe'
    filter_main_generic:
        Image:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\dsac.exe'
            - 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\RemoteFXvGPUDisablement.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\runscripthelper.exe'
            - 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\sdiagnhost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\ServerManager.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\winrshost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\wsmprovhost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\winrshost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wsmprovhost.exe'
    filter_main_dotnet:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\'
            - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm\'
            - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm64\'
            - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\'
        Image|endswith: '\mscorsvw.exe'
    filter_optional_sql_server_mgmt:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio'
        Image|endswith: '\IDE\Ssms.exe'
    filter_optional_sql_server_tools:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\'
        Image|endswith: '\Tools\Binn\SQLPS.exe'
    filter_optional_citrix:
        Image|endswith: '\Citrix\ConfigSync\ConfigSyncRun.exe'
    filter_optional_vs:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\'
    filter_optional_chocolatey:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\choco.exe'
    filter_optional_nextron:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Windows\Temp\asgard2-agent\'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\thor64.exe'
            - '\thor.exe'
        # User: 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'   # if set, matches all powershell processes not launched by SYSTEM
    filter_optional_aurora:
        # This filter is to avoid a race condition FP with this specific ETW provider in aurora
        Image: null
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Used by some .NET binaries, minimal on user workstation.
    - Used by Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: `condition`

selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Stage 1: `selection`

selection:
    - Description: 'System.Management.Automation'
    - OriginalFileName: 'System.Management.Automation.dll'
    - ImageLoaded|endswith:
          - '\System.Management.Automation.dll'
          - '\System.Management.Automation.ni.dll'

Stage 2: `not filter_main_*`

filter_main_powershell:
    Image:
        - 'C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7-preview\pwsh.exe'
        - 'C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
filter_main_pwsh_preview:
    Image|contains:
        - 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview'
        - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview'
    Image|endswith: '\pwsh.exe'
filter_main_generic:
    Image:
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\dsac.exe'
        - 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\RemoteFXvGPUDisablement.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\runscripthelper.exe'
        - 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\sdiagnhost.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\ServerManager.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\winrshost.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\wsmprovhost.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\winrshost.exe'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wsmprovhost.exe'
filter_main_dotnet:
    Image|startswith:
        - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\'
        - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm\'
        - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm64\'
        - 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\'
    Image|endswith: '\mscorsvw.exe'

Stage 3: `not filter_optional_*`

filter_optional_sql_server_mgmt:
    Image|startswith:
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio'
        - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio'
    Image|endswith: '\IDE\Ssms.exe'
filter_optional_sql_server_tools:
    Image|startswith:
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\'
        - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\'
    Image|endswith: '\Tools\Binn\SQLPS.exe'
filter_optional_citrix:
    Image|endswith: '\Citrix\ConfigSync\ConfigSyncRun.exe'
filter_optional_vs:
    Image|startswith:
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\'
        - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\'
filter_optional_chocolatey:
    Image|startswith: 'C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\choco.exe'
filter_optional_nextron:
    Image|startswith: 'C:\Windows\Temp\asgard2-agent\'
    Image|endswith:
        - '\thor64.exe'
        - '\thor.exe'
filter_optional_aurora:
    Image: null

Exclusions

Top-level NOT(...) conjuncts: predicates this rule actively suppresses.

Field	Kind	Excluded values
`Image`	match	`C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview`
`Image`	match	`\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.PowerShellPreview`
`Image`	ends_with	`\pwsh.exe`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm64\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameworkArm\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\`
`Image`	ends_with	`\mscorsvw.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7-preview\pwsh.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\WINDOWS\System32\RemoteFXvGPUDisablement.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\WINDOWS\System32\sdiagnhost.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\SysWOW64\winrshost.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wsmprovhost.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\ServerManager.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\dsac.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\runscripthelper.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\winrshost.exe`
`Image`	eq	`C:\Windows\System32\wsmprovhost.exe`
`Image`	ends_with	`\thor.exe`
`Image`	ends_with	`\thor64.exe`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Windows\Temp\asgard2-agent\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio`
`Image`	ends_with	`\IDE\Ssms.exe`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\`
`Image`	ends_with	`\Tools\Binn\SQLPS.exe`
`Image`	ends_with	`\Citrix\ConfigSync\ConfigSyncRun.exe`
`Image`	is_null	(no value, null check)
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\`
`Image`	starts_with	`C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\choco.exe`

Indicators

Each row is a field, operator, and value that the rule matches. The corpus column counts how many other rules in the catalog look for the same combination: high numbers point to widely-used, community-vetted indicators. Blank or 1 shows that the indicator is specific to this rule.

Field	Kind	Values
`Description`	eq	`System.Management.Automation`
`ImageLoaded`	ends_with	`\System.Management.Automation.dll` `\System.Management.Automation.ni.dll`
`OriginalFileName`	eq	`System.Management.Automation.dll`

`j` / `k`	Scroll down / up
`d` / `u`	Half-page down / up
`gg` / `G`	Top / bottom
`h` / `l`	History back / forward
`f`	Follow link (`Shift` = new tab)
`/`	Focus search
`?`	Toggle this help
`↑` / `↓`	Navigate search results
`Enter`	Open highlighted result
`Esc`	Close results / dialog

`type:`	`events` / `rules` / `providers`
`vendor:`	`sigma` / `elastic` / `splunk` / `kusto` / `chronicle` (vendor name alone also works: `sigma:`, `kql:`, `secops:`…)
`tactic:`	TA-id, slug, or name: `credential_access`, `TA0006`
`technique:`	technique or sub-technique ID: `T1003`, `T1003.001` (alias `tech:`)
`severity:`	`critical` / `high` / `medium` / `low` / `informational` (alias `sev:`)
`risk_score`	Numeric comparison on the Elastic risk score (0 to 100): `risk_score>50`, `risk_score<=20`, `risk_score=99` (alias `risk`; Elastic rules only)
`stages:`	Rules with exactly N pipeline stages
`correlation:`	`single_event` / `sequence` / `alternatives` / `alternatives_cross_log` / `all_required` / `correlated`
`with:`	Co-occurrence event-id; stacks (`with:4624 with:4769`) to require all, while a comma list in one occurrence (`with:4624,4769`) is an either-or group. Implies multi-event
`like:`	Structural neighbors of a rule slug (equivalents + subsumption stricter / broader): `like:comsvcs_lsass_memory_dump-splunk-sysmon`
`groupby:`	Entity-grouping substring match against `group_by_keys`: `groupby:user`, `groupby:host`
`uses:`	Rules whose predicate tree touches the field (any kind, any value): `uses:CommandLine`
`excludes:`	Rules with top-level `not()` clauses on the field (FP whitelists): `excludes:ParentImage`
`field:` / `value:`	Predicate search; narrows rule cards to those with a matching leaf and drives the indicator tier. Unquoted = substring, wildcards allowed (`value:mimikatz`)
`indicator:`	Shorthand for `field:F value:V`: `indicator:Image=*\powershell.exe`
`kind:`	Filter by predicate kind. Narrows rule cards to those carrying a matching predicate leaf (`vendor:elastic kind:cidr_match`) and drives the indicator tier: `contains` / `starts_with` / `ends_with` / `regex` / `cidr` / `eq` / `in` … (operator aliases `op:`/`match:`)
`has:` / `no:`	`sample`, `field`, `notes`, `refs`, `trace`, `thirdparty`, `rule`, `pattern`, `timewindow`, `threshold`, `newterms`, `sigma`/`elastic`/`splunk`/`kusto`/`chronicle`
`-op:val`	Exclude matches; works on most operators but not `type:`/`like:`/`has:`/`no:` (use `no:<flag>` to exclude a rule flag): `tactic:execution -vendor:splunk`. Standalone `-kind:`/`-field:`/`-value:` drop every rule carrying a matching predicate leaf (`type:rules -kind:is_null`)
`field:"…"` / `value:"…"`	Quoted value = anchored exact match (also allows spaces): `value:"net user"`
`a,b`	Comma = OR inside one operator (`vendor:sigma,elastic`, `severity:high,critical`); repeating a facet merges the same way. `field:`/`value:` never split (literal commas)
`vendors:` / `stage:`	Singular and plural spellings fold to the canonical operator and value: `tactics:` = `tactic:`, `type:event` = `type:events`, `correlation:sequences` = `correlation:sequence`, `has:thresholds` = `has:threshold`
`"quoted phrase"`	Exact-match a multi-word phrase (free text)

PowerShell Core DLL Loaded By Non PowerShell Process

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Event coverage

Rule body yaml

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: `condition`

Stage 1: `selection`

Stage 2: `not filter_main_*`

Stage 3: `not filter_optional_*`

Exclusions

Indicators

Keyboard shortcuts

Search operators

PowerShell Core DLL Loaded By Non PowerShell Process

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Event coverage

Rule body yaml

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

Stage 1: selection

Stage 2: not filter_main_*

Stage 3: not filter_optional_*

Exclusions

Indicators

Stage 0: `condition`

Stage 1: `selection`

Stage 2: `not filter_main_*`

Stage 3: `not filter_optional_*`