Script Interpreter Execution From Suspicious Folder — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2022-02-08 / 2026-02-17.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 4bc9d5c0b23c4e04f80c9238ea1fc20340d795a7d750dbc5154e85ab5749af16

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Script Interpreter Execution From Suspicious Folder
id: 1228c958-e64e-4e71-92ad-7d429f4138ba
status: test
description: |
    Detects suspicious script execution from suspicious directories or folders accessible by environment variables that may indicate malware activity.
    Script interpreters (cscript, wscript, mshta, powershell) executing from folders like Temp, Public, or user profile directories may suggest attempts to evade detection or execute malicious scripts.
references:
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/91ba814a86ddedc7a9d546e26f912c541205b47a853d227756ab1334ade92c3f
    - https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/shuckworm-russia-ukraine-military
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/csidl
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-02-08
modified: 2026-02-17
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_proc_image:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
    selection_proc_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' -ep bypass '
            - ' -ExecutionPolicy bypass '
            - ' -w hidden '
            - '/e:javascript '
            - '/e:Jscript '
            - '/e:vbscript '
    selection_proc_original:
        OriginalFileName:
            - 'cscript.exe'
            - 'mshta.exe'
            - 'wscript.exe'
    selection_folders_1:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Perflogs\'
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - '\%Public%'
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\Temp'
            - '\Temporary Internet'
            - '\Windows\Temp'
            - '\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\'
            - '%TEMP%'
            - '%TMP%'
            - '%LocalAppData%\Temp'
    selection_folders_2:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favorites\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favourites\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Contacts\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Documents\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Music\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Pictures\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Videos\'
    filter_optional_chocolatey_installer:
        ParentImage:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Msiexec.exe'
        Image|endswith: '\powershell.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command'
            - 'AppData\Local\Temp\'
            - 'Install-Chocolatey.ps1'
    condition: 1 of selection_proc_* and 1 of selection_folders_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Various legitimate software have been observed to use similar techniques for installation or update purposes;thus, it is recommended to review and tune filters for your environment to reduce false positives before deploying to production.
level: high

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Various legitimate software have been observed to use similar techniques for installation or update purposes;thus, it is recommended to review and tune filters for your environment to reduce false positives before deploying to production.

Source references

• https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/91ba814a86ddedc7a9d546e26f912c541205b47a853d227756ab1334ade92c3f
• https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/shuckworm-russia-ukraine-military
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/csidl