Adversaries may gain persistence and elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by PowerShell profiles. A PowerShell profile  (<code>profile.ps1</code>) is a script that runs when [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) starts and can be used as a logon script to customize user environments.

[PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) supports several profiles depending on the user or host program. For example, there can be different profiles for [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) host programs such as the PowerShell console, PowerShell ISE or Visual Studio Code. An administrator can also configure a profile that applies to all users and host programs on the local computer. (Citation: Microsoft About Profiles) 

Adversaries may modify these profiles to include arbitrary commands, functions, modules, and/or [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) drives to gain persistence. Every time a user opens a [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) session the modified script will be executed unless the <code>-NoProfile</code> flag is used when it is launched. (Citation: ESET Turla PowerShell May 2019) 

An adversary may also be able to escalate privileges if a script in a PowerShell profile is loaded and executed by an account with higher privileges, such as a domain administrator. (Citation: Wits End and Shady PowerShell Profiles)
PowerShell Profile
source_name: mitre-attack  url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/013  external_id: T1546.013     source_name: Wits End and Shady PowerShell Profiles  description: DeRyke, A.. (2019, June 7). Lab Notes: Persistence and Privilege Elevation using the Powershell Profile. Retrieved July 8, 2019.  url: https://witsendandshady.blogspot.com/2019/06/lab-notes-persistence-and-privilege.html     source_name: ESET Turla PowerShell May 2019  description: Faou, M. and Dumont R.. (2019, May 29). A dive into Turla PowerShell usage. Retrieved June 14, 2019.  url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/05/29/turla-powershell-usage/     source_name: Malware Archaeology PowerShell Cheat Sheet  description: Malware Archaeology. (2016, June). WINDOWS POWERSHELL LOGGING CHEAT SHEET - Win 7/Win 2008 or later. Retrieved June 24, 2016.  url: http://www.malwarearchaeology.com/s/Windows-PowerShell-Logging-Cheat-Sheet-ver-June-2016-v2.pdf     source_name: Microsoft About Profiles  description: Microsoft. (2017, November 29). About Profiles. Retrieved June 14, 2019.  url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles?view=powershell-6     source_name: Microsoft Profiles  description: Microsoft. (2021, September 27). about_Profiles. Retrieved February 4, 2022.  url: https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles     