Powershell Constrained Language Mode ByPass
Understanding ConstrainedLanguageMode
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Understanding ConstrainedLanguageMode
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Constrained Language Mode in short locks down the nice features of Powershell usually required for complex attacks to be carried out.
For fun - creating another powershell instance inside powershell without actually spawning a new powershell.exe process:
Enabling constrained language mode, that does not allow powershell execute complex attacks (i.e. mimikatz):
Checking constrained language mode is enabled:
With ConstrainedLanguage, trying to download a file from remote machine, we get Access Denied:
However, if you have access to the system and enough privileges to change environment variables, the lock can be lifted by removing the variable __PSLockdownPolicy and re-spawning another powershell instance.
If you have the ability to downgrade to Powershell 2.0, this can allow you to bypass the ConstrainedLanguagemode. Note how $ExecutionContext.SessionState.LanguageMode keeps returning ConstrainedLangue in powershell instances that were not launched with -version Powershell 2 until it does not:
