{
  "type": "attack-pattern",
  "spec_version": "2.1",
  "id": "attack-pattern--0f2c410d-d740-4ed9-abb1-b8f4a7faf6c3",
  "created": "2020-01-24T15:11:02.758Z",
  "created_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "revoked": false,
  "external_references": [
    {
      "source_name": "mitre-attack",
      "url": "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/013",
      "external_id": "T1546.013"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Wits End and Shady PowerShell Profiles",
      "description": "DeRyke, A.. (2019, June 7). Lab Notes: Persistence and Privilege Elevation using the Powershell Profile. Retrieved July 8, 2019.",
      "url": "https://witsendandshady.blogspot.com/2019/06/lab-notes-persistence-and-privilege.html"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "ESET Turla PowerShell May 2019",
      "description": "Faou, M. and Dumont R.. (2019, May 29). A dive into Turla PowerShell usage. Retrieved June 14, 2019.",
      "url": "https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/05/29/turla-powershell-usage/"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Malware Archaeology PowerShell Cheat Sheet",
      "description": "Malware Archaeology. (2016, June). WINDOWS POWERSHELL LOGGING CHEAT SHEET - Win 7/Win 2008 or later. Retrieved June 24, 2016.",
      "url": "http://www.malwarearchaeology.com/s/Windows-PowerShell-Logging-Cheat-Sheet-ver-June-2016-v2.pdf"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Microsoft About Profiles",
      "description": "Microsoft. (2017, November 29). About Profiles. Retrieved June 14, 2019.",
      "url": "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles?view=powershell-6"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Microsoft Profiles",
      "description": "Microsoft. (2021, September 27). about_Profiles. Retrieved February 4, 2022.",
      "url": "https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles"
    }
  ],
  "object_marking_refs": [
    "marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168"
  ],
  "modified": "2025-10-24T17:48:24.124Z",
  "name": "PowerShell Profile",
  "description": "Adversaries may gain persistence and elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by PowerShell profiles. A PowerShell profile  (<code>profile.ps1</code>) is a script that runs when [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) starts and can be used as a logon script to customize user environments.\n\n[PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) supports several profiles depending on the user or host program. For example, there can be different profiles for [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) host programs such as the PowerShell console, PowerShell ISE or Visual Studio Code. An administrator can also configure a profile that applies to all users and host programs on the local computer. (Citation: Microsoft About Profiles) \n\nAdversaries may modify these profiles to include arbitrary commands, functions, modules, and/or [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) drives to gain persistence. Every time a user opens a [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) session the modified script will be executed unless the <code>-NoProfile</code> flag is used when it is launched. (Citation: ESET Turla PowerShell May 2019) \n\nAn adversary may also be able to escalate privileges if a script in a PowerShell profile is loaded and executed by an account with higher privileges, such as a domain administrator. (Citation: Wits End and Shady PowerShell Profiles)",
  "kill_chain_phases": [
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "privilege-escalation"
    },
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "persistence"
    }
  ],
  "x_mitre_attack_spec_version": "3.2.0",
  "x_mitre_contributors": [
    "Allen DeRyke, ICE",
    "Matt Green, @mgreen27"
  ],
  "x_mitre_deprecated": false,
  "x_mitre_domains": [
    "enterprise-attack"
  ],
  "x_mitre_is_subtechnique": true,
  "x_mitre_modified_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "x_mitre_platforms": [
    "Windows"
  ],
  "x_mitre_version": "1.2"
}