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Suspicious Start-Process PassThru

Powershell use PassThru option to start in background

MITRE ATT&CK

Detection Query

selection_cmdlet:
  ScriptBlockText|contains:
    - "Start-Process "
    - "saps "
selection_param:
  ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
    - "-PassThru "
    - "-FilePath "
condition: all of selection_*

Author

frack113

Created

2022-01-15

Data Sources

windowsps_script

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.stealthattack.t1036.003

Raw Content

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