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Certificate Exported Via PowerShell - ScriptBlock

Detects calls to cmdlets inside of PowerShell scripts that are used to export certificates from the local certificate store. Threat actors were seen abusing this to steal private keys from compromised machines.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1552.004

credential-access

Detection Query

selection:
  ScriptBlockText|contains:
    - Export-PfxCertificate
    - Export-Certificate
filter_optional_module_export:
  ScriptBlockText|contains: CmdletsToExport = @(
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)

Created

2021-04-23

Data Sources

windowsps_script

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.credential-accessattack.t1552.004

Raw Content

title: Certificate Exported Via PowerShell - ScriptBlock
id: aa7a3fce-bef5-4311-9cc1-5f04bb8c308c
related:
    - id: 9e716b33-63b2-46da-86a4-bd3c3b9b5dfb
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects calls to cmdlets inside of PowerShell scripts that are used to export certificates from the local certificate store. Threat actors were seen abusing this to steal private keys from compromised machines.
references:
    - https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/analysis-reports/ar21-112a
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/pki/export-pfxcertificate?view=windowsserver2022-ps
    - https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/breaking-the-chain-defending-against-certificate-services-abuse.html
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-04-23
modified: 2023-05-18
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1552.004
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - 'Export-PfxCertificate'
            - 'Export-Certificate'
    filter_optional_module_export:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: 'CmdletsToExport = @('
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate certificate exports by administrators. Additional filters might be required.
level: medium