Individual skill
analyzing-powershell-empire-artifacts
Detect PowerShell Empire framework artifacts in Windows event logs by identifying Base64 encoded launcher patterns, default user agents, staging URL structures, stager IOCs, and known Empire module signatures in Script Block Logging events.
internal/tools/skills/data/threat-hunting/analyzing-powershell-empire-artifacts/SKILL.md
Source commit d42f381ad34843e71a42658e5c57290c713e85af
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- Scanner rules are current
- No
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- Skill scan complete
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- Observed behavior
- Not checked yet
- Last checked
- Nov 7, 2026
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Repository context
- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 1,313
- Repository last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
Observed agent integration: No specific integration evidence. Standard SKILL.md installation does not imply verified compatibility.
- cybersecurity Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- bug-bounty Repository topic
- automation Repository topic
- autonomous-pentesting Repository topic
- ai-agent Repository topic
- ai-security Repository topic
- ethical-hacking Repository topic
- golang Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- powershell-empire Declared skill tag
- threat-hunting Declared skill tag
- script-block-logging Declared skill tag
- base64 Declared skill tag
- stager Declared skill tag
- c2 Declared skill tag
- mitre-att&ck Declared skill tag
- t1059.001 Declared skill tag
- forensics Declared skill tag
- security Derived category
Files and excerpt
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# Analyzing PowerShell Empire Artifacts
## Overview
PowerShell Empire is a post-exploitation framework consisting of listeners, stagers, and agents. Its artifacts leave detectable traces in Windows event logs, particularly PowerShell Script Block Logging (Event ID 4104) and Module Logging (Event ID 4103). This skill analyzes event logs for Empire's default launcher string (`powershell -noP -sta -w 1 -enc`), Base64 encoded payloads containing `System.Net.WebClient` and `FromBase64String`, known module invocations (Invoke-Mimikatz, Invoke-Kerberoast, Invoke-TokenManipulation), and staging URL patterns.
## When to Use
- When investigating security incidents that require analyzing powershell empire artifacts
- When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
- When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
- When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques
