> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/dsc-desired-state-configuration-lateral-movement-using-powershell.md).
# DSC (Desired State Configuration) lateral movement using PowerShell
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Hour |
| Required Data | XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| Detector Tags | LOLBIN Execution Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Windows Management Instrumentation (T1047), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
An attacker is using the DSC feature with PowerShell to remotely modify / execute content / components on the machine.
### Attacker's Goals
Execute malicious content on and move laterally across machine in the network.
### Investigative actions
* Search for suspicious WinRM sessions and the user created them, can be found at Event ID: 4102.
* Additionally, search for the DSC resource executed and related IOC, can be found at Event IDs: 400 or 4104.
### Variations
DSC (Desired State Configuration) lateral movement using PowerShell to execute a script
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Windows Management Instrumentation (T1047), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity | High |
**Description**
An attacker may use the DSC feature with PowerShell to execute script remotely on a machine.
**Attacker's Goals**
Execute malicious content on and move laterally across machine in the network.
**Investigative actions**
* Search for suspicious WinRM sessions and the user created them, can be found at Event ID: 4102.
* Additionally, search for the DSC resource executed and related IOC, can be found at Event IDs: 400 or 4104.
* The executed script is logged under Event ID 4104.
DSC (Desired State Configuration) lateral movement using PowerShell to execute a new service
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Windows Management Instrumentation (T1047), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An attacker may use the DSC feature with PowerShell to create and execute a service on the host.
**Attacker's Goals**
Execute malicious content on and move laterally across machine in the network.
**Investigative actions**
* Search for suspicious WinRM sessions and the user created them, can be found at Event ID: 4102.
* Additionally, search for the DSC resource executed and related IOC, can be found at Event IDs: 400 or 4104.
DSC (Desired State Configuration) lateral movement using PowerShell to modify the registry
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Lateral Movement (TA0008), Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Windows Management Instrumentation (T1047), Remote Services: Windows Remote Management (T1021.006) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An attacker may use the DSC feature with PowerShell to create/modify/dump registry keys/values.
**Attacker's Goals**
Execute malicious content on and move laterally across machine in the network.
**Investigative actions**
* Search for suspicious WinRM sessions and the user created them, can be found at Event ID: 4102.
* Additionally, search for the DSC resource executed and related IOC, can be found at Event IDs: 400 or 4104.
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