Purpose
You receive an error when running a PowerShell script or command from PDQ Deploy or PDQ Inventory similar to:
You cannot run this script on the current system. For more information about running scripts and setting execution policy, see about_Execution_Policies at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170.
From Error Handling Wrapper.ps1
If you encounter an error similar to this when attempting to run a PowerShell script that did not come from PDQ.com, see this article about Signing Your PowerShell Scripts.
Resolution
PDQ.com signs each of our .ps1 files included in the product; this includes the error handling wrapper script that is used when executing PowerShell steps or remote commands, as well as any .ps1 in the package library with a code-signing certificate issued by Digicert. Any .ps1 file that is not provided directly from PDQ.com is not, and cannot be signed with this certificate. This includes any PowerShell directly entered into a PowerShell step, or PowerShell tool, but there is a workaround listed below to sign these yourself. If your organization requires all scripts to be signed, it is recommended to use an install step with a signed .ps1 as the installer file.
The thumbprint of the cert is:
PDQ Deploy and Inventory version 19.3.360.0 and later:8AB2A176E3B80545CE2E15ED12D186B9EF53C108CN=PDQ.COM CORPORATION, O=PDQ.COM CORPORATION, L=South Salt Lake, S=Utah, C=US
Version 18.1.28.0 - 19.3.350.0:32AE19914C02705091C58368406293D642F39516
Before version 18.1.28.0:709DF96FEEDE2CAB2A5FB803BEB599571D18A1D4
CN=PDQ.COM CORPORATION, O=PDQ.COM CORPORATION, L=Salt Lake City, S=Utah, C=US
This certificate is not included in the Trusted Publishers on Windows by default. This is the same code signing certificate with which we sign our applications. When the execution policy of "All-Signed" is set, this will only run scripts when the entire cert chain is installed and trusted. Conversely, installing a signed application does not have this requirement; the installed application must only have a valid signature.
In order to run a PowerShell script from our product when the "All-Signed" execution policy is set, you will need to install the certificate chain. There are a few of ways to accomplish this on your remote machines. First, we must extract the certificate from the product itself. The below PowerShell command will export a .cer file that you can deploy in whichever manner you chose:
| Note: You'll likely need both the old and new certs as not all scripts are updated with the new certificate simultaneously. You can get the older certs by running the below script against the installer from version Deploy 18.0.21.0 and Deploy 19.3.350.0. The new cert may be obtained from Deploy 19.3.360.0 and later. |
Defining the code-signing certificate as a variable
$cert = (Get-AuthenticodeSignature -FilePath "C:\Program Files (x86)\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Deploy\PDQDeployConsole.exe").SignerCertificate
Exporting the certificate to a file
Export-Certificate -Cert $cert -Filepath C:\pdqcert.cer -Type Cert
Now that we have the certificate exported, we have a couple options on how to install this certificate:
1. Group Policy - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-fs/deployment/distribute-certificates-to-client-computers-by-using-group-policy
IMPORTANT: If you have set your execution policy via group policy, this is the only option you can use
2. PowerShell - Importing the certificate created previously to the computer Trusted Publishers store.
Import-Certificate -Filepath C:\pdqcert.cer -CertStoreLocation Cert:\LocalMachine\TrustedPublisher\
WARNING: The certificate whose thumbprint starts with 709DF9 expired on October 18, 2019 and 32AE19 expired October 17, 2022. If you have previously imported these certificates, you will need to import the new one (8AB2A1, expires 09/12/2025).
Signing PowerShell Steps and Tools
When using a PowerShell step or a PowerShell tool, there are are scripts generated from the contents of these windows that are not signed unless the signature block is included. This signature block may be copied and pasted in after signing a script using the method described in Signing Your PowerShell Scripts.
A user.ps1 script is generated from the contents of a PowerShell step window. The below screenshot shows where you would need to paste the signature block in order to subsequently sign user.ps1.
A command.ps1 script is generated from the contents of a PowerShell tool window. The below screenshot shows where you would need to paste the signature block in order to subsequently sign command.ps1.
See Also
Article - Signing Your PowerShell Scripts
Article - Install a Certificate to the Trusted Root Certificate Authorities
