Remote PowerShell Session Host Process (WinRM)

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects remote PowerShell sections by monitoring for wsmprovhost (WinRM host process) as a parent or child process (sign of an active PowerShell remote session).

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Remote PowerShell Session Host Process (WinRM)
id: 734f8d9b-42b8-41b2-bcf5-abaf49d5a3c8
status: test
description: Detects remote PowerShell sections by monitoring for wsmprovhost (WinRM host process) as a parent or child process (sign of an active PowerShell remote session).
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-09-12
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.t1021.006
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\wsmprovhost.exe'
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\wsmprovhost.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of remote Powershell, e.g. for monitoring purposes.
level: medium

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where TargetProcessName endswith "\\wsmprovhost.exe" or (ParentProcessName endswith "\\wsmprovhost.exe" or ActingProcessName endswith "\\wsmprovhost.exe")

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Legitimate usage of remote Powershell, e.g. for monitoring purposes.

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Execution
• Tactic: Lateral Movement
• Technique: T1059.001 — PowerShell
• Technique: T1021.006 — T1021.006

References

• https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/190511-RemotePwshExecution/notebook.html
• SigmaHQ Rule