NodeJS Execution of JavaScript File — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems). Source status: experimental; severity: low. Source dates: 2025-04-21 / not supplied.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: b8165d5298cbb594794051b5a91a4ce87bf34e20dfd6ee17a129721ef3a2b07b

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: NodeJS Execution of JavaScript File
id: ba3874b9-0fae-465f-836c-eb5d071a1789
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects execution of JavaScript or JSC files using NodeJs binary node.exe, that could be potentially suspicious.
    Node.js is a popular open-source JavaScript runtime that runs code outside browsers and is widely used for both frontend and backend development.
    Adversaries have been observed abusing Node.js to disguise malware as legitimate processes, evade security defenses, and maintain persistence within target systems.
    Because Node.js is commonly used, this rule may generate false positives in some environments. However, if such activity is unusual in your environment, it is highly suspicious and warrants immediate investigation.
references:
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/04/15/threat-actors-misuse-node-js-to-deliver-malware-and-other-malicious-payloads/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-04-21
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.007
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\node.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'node.exe'
        - Product: 'Node.js'
    selection_cmd:
        CommandLine|contains: '.js'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of node.exe to execute JavaScript or JSC files on your environment
level: low

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate use of node.exe to execute JavaScript or JSC files on your environment

Source references

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/04/15/threat-actors-misuse-node-js-to-deliver-malware-and-other-malicious-payloads/