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Java Executing cmd to run Powershell

Description

This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Sysrv botnet evolution. Sysrv is a Go-based botnet that targets both Windows and Linux servers, and steals resources to mine cryptocurrency. The following query finds instances of the Java process being used to execute cmd.exe, and download and execute a PowerShell script.
Rule type
Scheduled
Version
1.0.0
Declared status
Available
Query frequency
1h
Query period
1h
Trigger
gt 0

Declared MITRE coverage

Declared sources

Metadata from the source file. No dependencies inferred from KQL.

Connectors

Data types

KQL query

Original query, unchanged.

DeviceProcessEvents                         
| where InitiatingProcessFileName == 'java.exe' and FileName == 'cmd.exe' 
and ProcessCommandLine has_all('powershell iex','DownloadString')
| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")

Declared entities

Host

Related content

Links established from declared identifiers and solution manifests.

Source provenance

GitHub

Displayed values come from files in Azure/Azure-Sentinel. They describe the published template, not your workspace configuration.

Source identifier
2c81c0a0-9823-4a14-b21a-2b4acd3335d2
Additional source files 2Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Campaign/Sysrv-botnet/MaliciousCMDExecutionByJava.yamlsource ↗Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Data/Solution_Microsoft Defender XDR.jsonsolution-membership ↗
GSTEP / CATALOG TRACKING

Added to catalog : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC
Last change observed : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC

GSTEP sync dates, separate from the source content’s publication dates.