Detect Certify With PowerShell Script Block Logging

name: Detect Certify With PowerShell Script Block Logging
id: f533ca6c-9440-4686-80cb-7f294c07812a
version: 12
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Steven Dick
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects the use of the Certify tool via an in-memory PowerShell function to enumerate Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) environments. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode 4104) to identify specific command patterns associated with Certify's enumeration and exploitation functions. This activity is significant as it indicates potential reconnaissance or exploitation attempts against AD CS, which could lead to unauthorized certificate issuance. If confirmed malicious, attackers could leverage this to escalate privileges, persist in the environment, or access sensitive information by abusing AD CS.
data_source:
    - Powershell Script Block Logging 4104
search: |-
    `powershell` EventCode=4104 (ScriptBlockText IN ("*find *") AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* /vulnerable*","* -vulnerable*","* /enrolleeSuppliesSubject *","* /json /outfile*")) OR (ScriptBlockText IN (,"*auth *","*req *",) AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* -ca *","* -username *","* -u *")) OR (ScriptBlockText IN ("*request *","*download *") AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* /ca:*"))
      | fillnull
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY dest signature signature_id
           user_id vendor_product EventID
           Guid Opcode Name
           Path ProcessID ScriptBlockId
           ScriptBlockText
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | eval file_name = case(isnotnull(file_name),file_name,true(),"unknown")
      | eval signature = substr(command,0,256)
      | `detect_certify_with_powershell_script_block_logging_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this analytic, you will need to enable PowerShell Script Block Logging on some or all endpoints. Additional setup here https://help.splunk.com/en/security-offerings/splunk-user-behavior-analytics/get-data-in/5.4.1/add-other-data-to-splunk-uba/configure-powershell-logging-to-see-powershell-anomalies-in-splunk-uba..
known_false_positives: No false positives have been identified at this time.
references:
    - https://github.com/GhostPack/Certify
    - https://specterops.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/06/Certified_Pre-Owned.pdf
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$" and "$user_id$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$" user_id = "$user_id$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$" and "$user_id$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$", "$user_id$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: Certify arguments through PowerShell detected on $dest$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
        - field: user_id
          type: user
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Windows Certificate Services
        - Malicious PowerShell
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1059.001
        - T1649
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1649/certify_abuse/certify_esc1_abuse_powershell.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog