{"id":"cea72823-df4d-4567-950c-0b579eaf0846","title":"Potential Dropper Script Execution Via WScript/CScript/MSHTA","description":"Detects wscript/cscript/mshta executions of scripts located in user directories","author":"Margaritis Dimitrios (idea), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Dave Johnson","status":"test","level":"medium","date":"2019-01-16","modified":"2026-02-17","tags":["attack.execution","attack.t1059.005","attack.t1059.007"],"technique_ids":["T1059.005","T1059.007"],"logsource":{"category":"process_creation","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Some installers might generate a similar behavior. An initial baseline is required"],"references":["https://thedfirreport.com/2023/10/30/netsupport-intrusion-results-in-domain-compromise/","https://redcanary.com/blog/gootloader/","https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/03/06/malvertising-campaign-leads-to-info-stealers-hosted-on-github/"],"source_path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wscript_cscript_mshta_dropper.yml","source_sha256":"dc26167c2bcfa3e5dc17d43fcc0092c5b37dcc0214fd2ec1691ecad10c1cc6e2","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wscript_cscript_mshta_dropper.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Potential Dropper Script Execution Via WScript/CScript/MSHTA\nid: cea72823-df4d-4567-950c-0b579eaf0846\nrelated:\n    - id: 1e33157c-53b1-41ad-bbcc-780b80b58288\n      type: similar\nstatus: test\ndescription: Detects wscript/cscript/mshta executions of scripts located in user directories\nreferences:\n    - https://thedfirreport.com/2023/10/30/netsupport-intrusion-results-in-domain-compromise/\n    - https://redcanary.com/blog/gootloader/\n    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/03/06/malvertising-campaign-leads-to-info-stealers-hosted-on-github/\nauthor: Margaritis Dimitrios (idea), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Dave Johnson\ndate: 2019-01-16\nmodified: 2026-02-17\ntags:\n    - attack.execution\n    - attack.t1059.005\n    - attack.t1059.007\nlogsource:\n    category: process_creation\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    selection_exec:\n        Image|endswith:\n            - '\\wscript.exe'\n            - '\\cscript.exe'\n            - '\\mshta.exe'\n    selection_paths:\n        CommandLine|contains:\n            - ':\\Perflogs\\'\n            - ':\\Temp\\'\n            - ':\\Tmp\\'\n            - ':\\Users\\Public\\'\n            - ':\\Windows\\Temp\\'\n            - '\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\'\n            - '\\AppData\\Roaming\\Temp\\'\n            - '\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\'\n            - '\\Temporary Internet'\n            - '\\Windows\\Temp'\n            - '%LocalAppData%\\Temp\\'\n            - '%TEMP%'\n            - '%TMP%'\n    selection_ext:\n        CommandLine|contains:\n            - '.hta'\n            - '.js'\n            - '.jse'\n            - '.vba'\n            - '.vbe'\n            - '.vbs'\n            - '.wsf'\n            - '.wsh'\n    condition: all of selection_*\nfalsepositives:\n    - Some installers might generate a similar behavior. An initial baseline is required\nlevel: medium\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1059.005","id":"T1059.005","name":"Visual Basic","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1059.005/"},{"key":"enterprise/T1059.007","id":"T1059.007","name":"JavaScript","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1059.007/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/cea72823-df4d-4567-950c-0b579eaf0846.json","kind":"sigma"}