Detection: Windows ConsoleHost History File Deletion

Updated Date: 2025-03-17 ID: a203040e-f8fd-49bb-8424-d2fabf277322 Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk Type: Anomaly Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects the deletion of the ConsoleHost_history.txt file, which stores command history for PowerShell sessions. Attackers may attempt to remove this file to cover their tracks and evade detection during post-exploitation activities. This detection focuses on file deletion commands executed via PowerShell, Command Prompt, or scripting languages that specifically target ConsoleHost_history.txt, typically located at %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\PSReadline\ConsoleHost_history.txt. Identifying such activity can help uncover potential anti-forensic behavior and suspicious administrative actions.

1`sysmon` EventCode IN ("23","26") TargetFilename = "*\\Microsoft\\Windows\\PowerShell\\PSReadline\\ConsoleHost_history.txt" 
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime, max(_time) as lastTime by action dest dvc file_path file_hash file_name file_modify_time process_name process_exec process_id process_path user_id vendor_product process_guid signature signature_id user 
3| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
4| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
5| `windows_consolehost_history_file_deletion_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Sysmon EventID 23 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational'
Sysmon EventID 26 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational'

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_ctime convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)
windows_consolehost_history_file_deletion_filter search *
windows_consolehost_history_file_deletion_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1070.003 Clear Command History Defense Evasion
Exploitation
DE.AE
CIS 10

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type anomaly. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting.

Implementation

To successfully implement this search, you need to ingest logs that include the deleted target file name, process name, and process ID from your endpoints. If you are using Sysmon, ensure you have at least version 2.0 of the Sysmon TA installed.

Known False Positives

An administrator may delete the ConsoleHost history file on a specific machine, potentially triggering this detection. However, this action is uncommon for regular users who are not accustomed to using the PowerShell command line

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message:

a process $process_name$ delete ConsoleHost_History.txt on $dest$.

Risk Object Risk Object Type Risk Score Threat Objects
dest system 25 process_name

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational XmlWinEventLog
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational XmlWinEventLog

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 1