sigmahighHunting

Clearing Windows Console History

Identifies when a user attempts to clear console history. An adversary may clear the command history of a compromised account to conceal the actions undertaken during an intrusion.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1070 T1070.003

defense-evasion

Detection Query

selection1:
  ScriptBlockText|contains: Clear-History
selection2a:
  ScriptBlockText|contains:
    - Remove-Item
    - rm
selection2b:
  ScriptBlockText|contains:
    - ConsoleHost_history.txt
    - (Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath
condition: selection1 or selection2a and selection2b

Author

Austin Songer @austinsonger

Created

2021-11-25

Data Sources

windowsps_script

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1070attack.t1070.003

Raw Content

title: Clearing Windows Console History
id: bde47d4b-9987-405c-94c7-b080410e8ea7
status: test
description: Identifies when a user attempts to clear console history. An adversary may clear the command history of a compromised account to conceal the actions undertaken during an intrusion.
references:
    - https://stefanos.cloud/blog/kb/how-to-clear-the-powershell-command-history/
    - https://www.shellhacks.com/clear-history-powershell/
    - https://community.sophos.com/sophos-labs/b/blog/posts/powershell-command-history-forensics
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger
date: 2021-11-25
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1070
    - attack.t1070.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection1:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: Clear-History
    selection2a:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - Remove-Item
            - rm
    selection2b:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - ConsoleHost_history.txt
            - (Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath
    condition: selection1 or selection2a and selection2b
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high