Clipboard Access Via OSAScript — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Sohan G (D4rkCiph3r). Source status: test; severity: medium. Source dates: 2023-01-31 / 2026-05-22.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 418ee9e4d68b47801350ce63e5b41d6e7fa808849c332ade4ecf2ce67b07a00f

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: Clipboard Access Via OSAScript
id: 7794fa3c-edea-4cff-bec7-267dd4770fd7
related:
    - id: 1bc2e6c5-0885-472b-bed6-be5ea8eace55
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects access to clipboard content via osascript, which may be used for data collection but also occurs in legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts
references:
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/how-offensive-actors-use-applescript-for-attacking-macos/
author: Sohan G (D4rkCiph3r)
date: 2023-01-31
modified: 2026-05-22
tags:
    - attack.collection
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1115
    - attack.t1059.002
logsource:
    product: macos
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/osascript'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' -e '
            - 'clipboard'
    filter_optional_opencode:
        # OpenCode uses osascript to handle copying text from the TUI on MacOS devices. See https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode/blob/ca723f1cbc6fc4244ae57e61e9de8c4e37380ed4/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/util/clipboard.ts#L65 for reference.
        ParentImage|endswith: 'opencode'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'osascript'
            - ' -e '
            - 'set imageData to the clipboard'
            - 'set fileRef'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts that read or write clipboard content
    - Developer tools and IDEs that use osascript for clipboard integration
level: medium

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts that read or write clipboard content
• Developer tools and IDEs that use osascript for clipboard integration

Source references

• https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/how-offensive-actors-use-applescript-for-attacking-macos/