Rocky Raccoon

SQLPS.exe

by Microsoft
DatabaseLOLBinhigh risk

Summary

SQL Server PowerShell - launches a PowerShell session with SQL Server modules pre-loaded. Deprecated in favor of the SqlServer PowerShell module.

SQLPS.exe is the 1045th most commonly executed Windows program in EchoTrail's dataset, observed 1,832 times across enterprise environments. It typically runs from D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\120\Tools\Binn.

1045th
most commonly executed Windows program
1,832
observed executions
low
statistical confidence

Behavior

Top Paths

  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\120\Tools\Binn34.55%
  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Tools\Binn20.58%
  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Tools\Binn19.71%
  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Tools\Binn8.73%
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Tools\Binn6.66%
  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\Binn4.2%
  • D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn4.04%
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Tools\Binn1.53%

Top Hashes (SHA256)

  • 484c16df0d32a6aaaa2012d90fac9a25abeb00932a5e787cbccd9e86aac0cfa827.24%
  • 6e710aa1bc36ce87c5363fd9b3e6e3fb60d9140aa8d35c458a9f9ff046cb94a226.26%
  • 9777e3c68f5234a3f36ed94315e3d6fc5332a5a6df44a6d8fcd6136a79af1da221.23%
  • 615f14eca159504bdc028d9f2ec860f0f8e5edad8cb7835e0e2eda62780f3cf08.73%
  • 37cefa6d31e5c86778cdcb0ccbfdcbd382df4d2ba36dac3ff0777e28b7deaf686.88%
  • 37fecadb69152dfc57c98863c374a4804d8abb3f19fc4314416bfea2d0eb7ca34.2%
  • 8020d5f05aaf8b30c0bcb389a848c1ba6d08639388cd355a7ae0f7e3358df3494.04%
  • ee04872bb3e8b68bcaaa896ae41a74167f72092f0a49c3ee62b4447ffa0d6db31.42%

Security Analysis

What does SQLPS.exe normally do?

Used by SQL Server for PowerShell-based management tasks. May be invoked by SQL Server Agent jobs.

When is SQLPS.exe suspicious?

Running on systems without SQL Server. Executing encoded commands. Loading modules unrelated to SQL Server.

How do attackers abuse SQLPS.exe?

sqlps.exe is a signed Microsoft binary that launches PowerShell without the usual PowerShell protections (AMSI, Constrained Language Mode). Attackers on SQL Server machines use it to bypass PowerShell security controls and execute arbitrary code.

Detection guidance

Monitor sqlps.exe for non-SQL-related command execution. Alert on encoded commands or execution of scripts unrelated to SQL administration.

False positive notes

Legitimate on SQL Server machines for database administration tasks and SQL Agent jobs.

MITRE ATT&CK techniques

T1059.001

References

Related Processes

powershell.exesqlservr.exe

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Data from EchoTrail's dataset of ~346M Windows process executions. Last extracted 2026-08-04.