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.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

winlogbeat-*
logs-endpoint.events.*
logs-windows.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Defense Evasion

Version: 1

Rule authors:

Austin Songer

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

edit

process where event.action == "start" and
  (process.name : ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe", "powershell_ise.exe") or process.pe.original_file_name == "PowerShell.EXE") and
     (process.args : "*Clear-History*" or
     (process.args : ("*Remove-Item*", "rm") and process.args : ("*ConsoleHost_history.txt*", "*(Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath*")) or
     (process.args : "*Set-PSReadlineOption*" and process.args : "*SaveNothing*"))

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
Technique:
- Name: Indicator Removal on Host
- ID: T1070
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/
Sub-technique:
- Name: Clear Command History
- ID: T1070.003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/003/

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