LoFP LoFP / direct ps command execution through sqlps.exe is uncommon, childprocess sqlps.exe spawned by sqlagent.exe is a legitimate action.

Techniques

Sample rules

Detection of PowerShell Execution via Sqlps.exe

Description

This rule detects execution of a PowerShell code through the sqlps.exe utility, which is included in the standard set of utilities supplied with the MSSQL Server. Script blocks are not logged in this case, so this utility helps to bypass protection mechanisms based on the analysis of these logs.

Detection logic

condition: selection_parent or (selection_image and not filter_image)
filter_image:
  ParentImage|endswith: \sqlagent.exe
selection_image:
- Image|endswith: \sqlps.exe
- OriginalFileName: sqlps.exe
selection_parent:
  ParentImage|endswith: \sqlps.exe