Uncommon PowerShell Hosts

title: Uncommon PowerShell Hosts
id: d7326048-328b-4d5e-98af-86e84b17c765
related:
    - id: 64e8e417-c19a-475a-8d19-98ea705394cc
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects alternate PowerShell hosts potentially bypassing detections looking for powershell.exe
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190815-RemoteServiceInstallation/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-08-11
modified: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_classic_start
detection:
    selection:
        Data|contains: 'HostApplication='
    # Note: Powershell Logging Data is localized. Meaning that "HostApplication" field will be translated to a different field on a non english layout. This rule doesn't take this into account due to the sheer ammount of possibilities. It's up to the user to add these cases.
    filter_main_ps:
        Data|contains:
            - 'HostApplication=?:/Windows/System32/WindowsPowerShell/v1.0/powershell' # In some cases powershell was invoked with inverted slashes
            - 'HostApplication=?:/Windows/SysWOW64/WindowsPowerShell/v1.0/powershell' # In some cases powershell was invoked with inverted slashes
            - 'HostApplication=?:\Windows\System32\sdiagnhost.exe'
            - 'HostApplication=?:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell'
            - 'HostApplication=?:\Windows\SysWOW64\sdiagnhost.exe'
            - 'HostApplication=?:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell'
            - 'HostApplication=powershell'
    filter_optional_citrix:
        Data|contains: 'Citrix\ConfigSync\ConfigSync.ps1'
    filter_optional_hexnode:
        Data|contains: 'HostApplication=C:\Hexnode\Hexnode Agent\Current\HexnodeAgent.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Programs using PowerShell directly without invocation of a dedicated interpreter
    - MSP Detection Searcher
    - Citrix ConfigSync.ps1
level: medium