PowerShell MSI Install via WindowsInstaller COM From Remote Location

Title: PowerShell MSI Install via WindowsInstaller COM From Remote Location
Status: experimental
Description:Detects the execution of PowerShell commands that attempt to install MSI packages via the Windows Installer COM object (`WindowsInstaller.Installer`) hosted remotely. This could be indication of malicious software deployment or lateral movement attempts using Windows Installer functionality. And the usage of WindowsInstaller COM object rather than msiexec could be an attempt to bypass the detection.
References:
  -https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/the-real-danger-behind-a-simple-windows-shortcut/
  -https://redcanary.com/blog/threat-intelligence/intelligence-insights-may-2025/
  -https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/f9710b0ba4de5fa0e7ec27da462d4d2fc6838eba83a19f23f6617a466bbad457
Author: Meroujan Antonyan (vx3r)
Date: 2025-06-05
modified:None
Tags:

• -'attack.execution'
• -'attack.t1059.001'
• -'attack.defense-evasion'
• -'attack.t1218'
• -'attack.command-and-control'
• -'attack.t1105'

Logsource:

• category: process_creation
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
      - '\powershell_ise.exe'
      - '\powershell.exe'
      - '\pwsh.exe'
    - OriginalFileName:
      - 'PowerShell_ISE.EXE'
      - 'PowerShell.EXE'
      - 'pwsh.dll'
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      -'-ComObject'
      -'InstallProduct('

  selection_remote:
    CommandLine|contains:
      -'http'
      -'\\\\'

  filter_main_localhost:
    CommandLine|contains:
      -'://127.0.0.1'
      -'://localhost'

  condition:all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
Falsepositives:
  -Unknown
Level: medium