PSScriptPolicyTest Creation By Uncommon Process

SIGMA detection rule by Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) · NOASSERTION

Detects the creation of the "PSScriptPolicyTest" PowerShell script by an uncommon process. This file is usually generated by Microsoft Powershell to test against Applocker.

title: PSScriptPolicyTest Creation By Uncommon Process
id: 1027d292-dd87-4a1a-8701-2abe04d7783c
status: test
description: Detects the creation of the "PSScriptPolicyTest" PowerShell script by an uncommon process. This file is usually generated by Microsoft Powershell to test against Applocker.
references:
    - https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/stopping-powershell-without-powershell/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-06-01
modified: 2026-10-19
tags:
    - attack.stealth
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|contains: '__PSScriptPolicyTest_'
    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\sdiagnhost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\ServerManager.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\wsmprovhost.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sdiagnhost.exe'
    filter_optional_gethelp:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.GetHelp_'
        Image|endswith: '\GetHelp.exe'
    filter_optional_citrix:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Citrix\ConfigSync\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\ConfigSync\'
        Image|endswith: '\ConfigSyncRun.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

e93eee0b-70af-40c1-83d6-835389acfd7c

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Executable code, not a declarative rule

This submission is arbitrary [[ currentRule.format ? currentRule.format.toUpperCase() : '' ]] code, not a declarative detection rule — review it as you would any script before running it, and note that it cannot be safely aggregated or auto-executed alongside YARA/Sigma/Suricata/CRS rules.

Rejected pattern present

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Format & documentation suggestions

Not a security issue — this rule is valid and was accepted as-is. These are optional fields/conventions its own format recommends, mainly affecting its quality score and how well it documents itself for other reviewers.

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[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

[[ currentRule.title ]]

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