Investigating WMI via PowerShell Attacks: Tips for Defenders

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is a powerful tool that allows administrators to manage and monitor Windows systems. However, this power can also be leveraged by attackers to conduct malicious activity. In recent years, there has been a rise in WMI via PowerShell attacks, where attackers use PowerShell to execute malicious code and compromise Windows systems. In this blog, we will explore the importance of log monitoring and how to identify suspicious activity related to WMI via PowerShell attacks.

Identifying and mitigating WMI via PowerShell attacks

One of the first steps in identifying a WMI via PowerShell attack is to review the Windows event logs. The Application and System event logs should be carefully examined for any entries related to PowerShell or WMI. If you find entries indicating that PowerShell was used to execute malicious code or connect to a remote system, it may be a sign that your system has been compromised.

Another area to review is the PowerShell logs, which can provide valuable information about the commands that were executed on the system. By using the Get-WinEvent cmdlet in PowerShell, you can query the logs for any suspicious activity and determine if any malicious code was executed.

Network traffic should also be monitored for any signs of suspicious activity. Tools such as Wireshark or NetFlow can be used to capture and analyze network traffic, looking for incoming or outgoing connections to or from remote systems, as well as any network traffic related to WMI or PowerShell.

In addition to reviewing logs and network traffic, it is also important to check for suspicious processes and files on the system. The Task Manager can be used to check for any processes that are using high amounts of CPU or memory, or any processes that are running that you do not recognize. The file system should also be checked for any suspicious files, such as files that were recently added or files that have unusual file permissions or attributes. Tools such as Sysinternals Process Monitor or Autoruns can be used to identify any suspicious files or changes to the file system.

In conclusion, identifying a WMI via PowerShell attack requires a thorough investigation of the system, including the event logs, PowerShell logs, network traffic, processes, and files. By following these steps, technical folks can identify any suspicious activity and determine if their system has been compromised by an attacker using WMI via PowerShell. Regular monitoring and incident response planning can help prevent and mitigate the effects of these types of attacks.