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T1059.001PowerShell

T1059.001 — PowerShell is a MITRE ATT&CK technique in the Execution tactic. Clankerusecase tracks 137 detection use cases covering it and 209 threat-intel articles citing it.

Execution
View on the matrix → Filter Detection Library MITRE official spec ↗
137Use cases
209Articles
0Sub-techniques
1Tactic

Use cases covering this technique (137)

Fake CAPTCHA / clipboard-injected PowerShell (ClickFix / FakeCaptcha) Internal exploit · alerting DSΣP Office app spawning script/LOLBin child process Internal exploit · alerting DSΣP Phishing-link click correlated to endpoint execution Internal delivery · alerting DSP PowerShell encoded / obfuscated command Internal exploit · alerting DSΣP [WEEKLY] Brand-Impersonation Domain Fetch Followed by User-Context Loader Within 10 Minutes Internal delivery · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Cross-Platform ClickFix Paste-to-Pipe Loader (UI-Parent Shell with Decode-and-Execute Payload) Internal delivery · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Developer/AI tooling runtime spawns shell or egress LOLBin (unauth RCE post-expl) Internal exploit · alerting DSPDDCS [WEEKLY] Developer package install spawning script-host with non-registry C2 within 5 minutes Internal install · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Internet-facing service process spawns shell/LOLBin within minutes of public inbound connection — post-RCE command execution Internal exploit · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Low-Code / AI Workflow Runtime Sandbox-Escape — Server Process Spawns Shell + Public Egress Internal exploit · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] npm/yarn/pnpm Install-Hook Spawn → Credential-Store Read or Worm-Payload Drop in node_modules Internal install · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Package Manager / Dev-Tool Auto-Execution Triggers Non-Registry Egress or Credential-Store Access Internal install · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Package-manager install-time interpreter spawn with credential-file read and outbound egress within 120s Internal install · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Package manager lifecycle hook spawns network-fetching shell or runtime Internal install · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Package manager lifecycle hook spawns runtime with outbound egress to non-registry host within 5 minutes Internal install · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Script Interpreter or Package-Install Hook Egress to Free-Tier Edge SaaS Within 5 Minutes of Process Start Internal c2 · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Self-hosted application service spawns shell or SSH within seconds of inbound unauthenticated API write Internal exploit · alerting DSPDD [WEEKLY] Server / AI-agent process spawns shell or LOLBIN with public egress — post-RCE behavioural chain Internal exploit · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Service-process parent spawns subprocess containing CLI-argument-injection tokens Internal exploit · alerting DSΣPDD [WEEKLY] Web App Interpreter (Node/Python/Java/PHP) Spawns Shell or Net-Download LOLBin on Internet-Facing Host Internal exploit · alerting DSPDD Detect Certify With PowerShell Script Block Logging ESCU actions · alerting P Detect Empire with PowerShell Script Block Logging ESCU actions · alerting P Detect Mimikatz With PowerShell Script Block Logging ESCU actions · alerting P Exchange PowerShell Module Usage ESCU actions · alerting P Get-ForestTrust with PowerShell Script Block ESCU actions · alerting P GetLocalUser with PowerShell Script Block ESCU actions · hunting P GetWmiObject User Account with PowerShell Script Block ESCU actions · hunting P Malicious PowerShell Process - Execution Policy Bypass ESCU actions · hunting P Malicious PowerShell Process With Obfuscation Techniques ESCU actions · alerting P Nishang PowershellTCPOneLine ESCU actions · alerting P Possible Lateral Movement PowerShell Spawn ESCU actions · hunting P PowerShell 4104 Hunting ESCU actions · hunting P PowerShell - Connect To Internet With Hidden Window ESCU actions · hunting P Powershell COM Hijacking InprocServer32 Modification ESCU actions · alerting P Powershell Creating Thread Mutex ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell Domain Enumeration ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell Enable PowerShell Remoting ESCU actions · hunting P PowerShell Environment Variable Execution ESCU actions · hunting P Powershell Execute COM Object ESCU actions · alerting P Powershell Fileless Process Injection via GetProcAddress ESCU actions · alerting P Powershell Fileless Script Contains Base64 Encoded Content ESCU actions · alerting P Powershell Load Module in Meterpreter ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell Loading DotNET into Memory via Reflection ESCU actions · hunting P PowerShell PInvoke Process Injection API Chain ESCU actions · alerting P Powershell Processing Stream Of Data ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell Script Block With URL Chain ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell Start or Stop Service ESCU actions · hunting P Powershell Using memory As Backing Store ESCU actions · alerting P PowerShell WebRequest Using Memory Stream ESCU actions · alerting P Recon Using WMI Class ESCU actions · hunting P Set Default PowerShell Execution Policy To Unrestricted or Bypass ESCU actions · alerting P Unloading AMSI via Reflection ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Account Access Removal via Logoff Exec ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Cobalt Strike PowerShell Loader ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Crowdstrike RTR Script Execution ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Default Cobalt Strike PowerShell Beacon ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Enable PowerShell Web Access ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Explorer.exe Spawning PowerShell or Cmd ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Explorer LNK Exploit Process Launch With Padding ESCU actions · alerting P Windows File Download Via PowerShell ESCU actions · hunting P Windows MSExchange Management Mailbox Cmdlet Usage ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Powershell Cryptography Namespace ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell FakeCAPTCHA Clipboard Execution ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowerShell Get CIMInstance Remote Computer ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Powershell Import Applocker Policy ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowerShell Invoke-RestMethod IP Information Collection ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell Invoke-Sqlcmd Execution ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Powershell Logoff User via Quser ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell Module File Created ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell MSIX Package Installation ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowerShell Process Implementing Manual Base64 Decoder ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell Process With Malicious String ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Powershell RemoteSigned File ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell ScheduleTask ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell Script Block With Malicious String ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowerShell Script From WindowsApps Directory ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowerShell Script TabExpansion Direct Call ESCU actions · hunting P Windows PowerShell WMI Win32 ScheduledJob ESCU actions · alerting P Windows PowGoop Beacon Decoding ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Shell Process from CrushFTP ESCU actions · alerting P Windows Software Discovery Via PowerShell ESCU actions · hunting P Windows SSH Proxy Command ESCU actions · hunting P Windows Suspicious React or Next.js Child Process ESCU actions · alerting P Cisco Secure Firewall - Communication Over Suspicious Ports ESCU actions · hunting P Cisco Secure Firewall - Veeam CVE-2023-27532 Exploitation Activity ESCU actions · alerting P CrushFTP Authentication Bypass Exploitation ESCU actions · alerting P Any Powershell DownloadFile ESCU actions · alerting P Any Powershell DownloadString ESCU actions · alerting P First time seen command line argument ESCU actions · hunting P Suspicious Powershell Command-Line Arguments ESCU actions · alerting P [LLM] splunkd spawning shell interpreters (CVE-2026-20253 post-exploit RCE) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] AI coding agent (Claude Code / Cursor / Codex) spawning shell that fetch-and-executes remote payload Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Shell/LOLBin spawned by LangGraph Python or Node runtime Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] PowerShell process invoking LDAP:// with hardcoded plaintext credential Bespoke actions · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Self-hosted AI agent process spawns shell/curl/wget then executes the fetched payload Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Webserver / PHP interpreter spawns shell or LOLBin — post-upload RCE indicator Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] FireAnt Metakit updater spawning unexpected child (supply-chain compromise) Bespoke delivery · hunting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] npm install lifecycle script spawns interpreter or network-fetcher child Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Chrome browser spawning LOLBin children post-V8 sandbox-escape (CVE-2026-11645) Bespoke exploit · hunting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] HTTP.sys / IIS w3wp.exe spawning shell or LOLBin (CVE-2026-47291 post-exploit) Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] BEAM / Erlang VM spawns shell or interpreter child (post-RCE — CVE-2026-8467) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] WinRAR CVE-2025-8088 — archive tool writes payload to user Startup folder Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Startup LNK spawns cmd.exe → PowerShell in-memory DLL loader (GIFTEDCROOK chain) Bespoke install · alerting DSPDDCS [LLM] Web-server process (php-fpm / apache / nginx / w3wp) spawning shell or network tooling Bespoke exploit · hunting DSΣPDDCS Article-specific behavioural hunt — Hypotheses, telemetry, and human judgment: Inside Cisco Talos Threat Hunting Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP [LLM] PowerShell Invoke-WebRequest dropping script.ps1 to user AppData (KongTuke stage-2) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] mcp-remote OAuth authorization_endpoint RCE (CVE-2025-6514) — node spawning shell Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Argamal Scheduled Task Pointing at AppData\Local DLL via Color System Calibration Loader Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Downloader or shell child of npm/pip install (postinstall RAT loader) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Post-exploit shell spawned by Vitest node.exe via rerun / saveTestFile (CVE-2026-47429) Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Node.js process spawning native shell / interpreter — post-vm2-escape host execution Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] axios RAT Windows persistence: %PROGRAMDATA%\wt.exe drop + %TEMP%\6202033.vbs/.ps1 staging Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] PowerShell-parented taskkill of winrar.exe (Cloud Atlas LNK anti-forensic cleanup) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] PowerShower dropped to user Pictures folder as googleearth.ps1 Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] SSH process spawned by Kopia invokes a shell child (ProxyCommand execution) Bespoke install · alerting DSPDDCS [LLM] GlassFish java process spawning command shell (CVE-2026-2587 RCE) Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Apache Camel JVM spawning shell or command interpreter via camel-exec (CVE-2026-47323 post-exploit) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] MLflow server process spawning Claude Code CLI or shell — CVE-2026-2611 RCE chain Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Web-server process (w3wp/php/nginx) spawns shell or LOLBin (post-SSTI RCE chain) Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] n8n Node.js parent spawning OS shell — post-exploit RCE indicator for CVE-2026-44791 Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Post-exploit RCE: node.js (n8n) spawning shell or scripting interpreter Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS Article-specific behavioural hunt — Kimsuky targets organizations with PebbleDash-based tools Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP [LLM] Kimsuky JSE dropper: wscript -> powershell hidden + certutil -decode chain Bespoke delivery · alerting DSΣPDD [LLM] Java/Tomcat process spawns OS command interpreter (post-Thymeleaf SSTI RCE) Bespoke actions · alerting DSΣPDDCS Article-specific behavioural hunt — axios Compromised on npm - Malicious Versions Drop Remote Access Trojan Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP [LLM] PowerShell masquerading as Windows Terminal at %PROGRAMDATA%\wt.exe (Axios RAT Windows stage) Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] PowerShell copy masqueraded as Windows Terminal in %PROGRAMDATA% running 6202033.ps1 Bespoke install · alerting DSΣPDD Article-specific behavioural hunt — Glassworm Strikes Popular React Native Phone Number Packages Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP [LLM] MuddyWater SimpleHelp RMM client spawning shell or recon LOLBin Bespoke install · alerting DSΣP [LLM] Pastebin-piping stager retrieved from rentry.co/openclaw-core (macOS/Linux ClawHub skill) Bespoke delivery · alerting DSPDDCS Article-specific behavioural hunt — Fake Clawdbot VS Code Extension Installs ScreenConnect RAT Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP Article-specific behavioural hunt — G_Wagon: npm Package Deploys Python Stealer Targeting 100+ Crypto Wallets Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP Article-specific behavioural hunt — LongNosedGoblin tries to sniff out governmental affairs in Southeast Asia and Ja Bespoke exploit · hunting DSP [LLM] NPM preinstall hook fetching Bun installer from bun.sh (Sha1-Hulud dropper) Bespoke delivery · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Node.js process spawning interactive shell — suspected post-exploit RCE on Next.js / RSC server Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Cursor IDE or VS Code spawning PowerShell/WScript from extensions folder (Solidity Language malware chain) Bespoke exploit · alerting DSΣPDDCS [LLM] Tomcat/Java process spawns OS shell or LOLBin (post-webshell RCE) Bespoke actions · alerting DSΣPDDCS

Articles citing this technique (209)