Detection rules › Sigma
Suspicious Start-Process PassThru
Powershell use PassThru option to start in background
Known false positives
- Legitimate PowerShell scripts
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Stealth |
Telemetry coverage
| Provider | Record / event type |
|---|---|
| PowerShell | Event ID 4104: Creating Scriptblock text (MessageNumber of MessageTotal). |
Rule body
title: Suspicious Start-Process PassThru
id: 0718cd72-f316-4aa2-988f-838ea8533277
status: test
description: Powershell use PassThru option to start in background
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1036.003/T1036.003.md
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/start-process?view=powershell-7.6
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-15
modified: 2026-05-18
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1036.003
logsource:
product: windows
category: ps_script
definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
selection_cmdlet:
ScriptBlockText|contains:
- 'Start-Process '
- 'saps '
selection_param:
ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
- '-PassThru '
- '-FilePath '
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate PowerShell scripts
level: medium
Stages and Predicates
Stage 0: condition
all of selection_*Stage 1: selection_cmdlet
selection_cmdlet:
ScriptBlockText|contains:
- 'Start-Process '
- 'saps '
Stage 2: selection_param
selection_param:
ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
- '-PassThru '
- '-FilePath '
Indicators
These rows show field, operator, and value matches.
| Field | Kind | Values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
ScriptBlockText | match |
| field:"ScriptBlockText" kind:match |