macOS AppleScript Execution via osascript with -e, .scpt, or .js
Flags osascript usage on macOS with -e and script indicators consistent with executing AppleScript.
- Product
- macos
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2020-10-21
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ExecutionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies process executions where osascript is launched with an -e argument and references to AppleScript script files or JavaScript components (via .scpt or .js). Attackers can use AppleScript execution to automate actions and run code through macOS scripting interfaces. It relies on macOS process creation telemetry capturing the executed image path and command-line arguments.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1059.002/T1059.002.md
- redcanary.comhttps://redcanary.com/blog/applescript/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/macos/process_creation/proc_creation_macos_applescript.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: macOS AppleScript Execution via osascript with -e, .scpt, or .js
id: 90b48d2b-9283-42cb-88bd-9e5824673bf3
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions where osascript is launched with an -e argument and references to AppleScript script files or JavaScript components (via .scpt or .js). Attackers can use AppleScript execution to automate actions and run code through macOS scripting interfaces. It relies on macOS process creation telemetry capturing the executed image path and command-line arguments.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1059.002/T1059.002.md
- https://redcanary.com/blog/applescript/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/macos/process_creation/proc_creation_macos_applescript.yml
author: Alejandro Ortuno, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-21
modified: 2026-05-21
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1059.002
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: macos
detection:
selection:
Image|endswith: /osascript
CommandLine|contains:
- " -e "
- .scpt
- .js
filter_optional_opencode:
ParentImage|endswith: opencode
CommandLine|contains|all:
- osascript
- " -e "
- set imageData to the clipboard
- set fileRef
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
- Application installers might contain scripts as part of the installation process.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 1bc2e6c5-0885-472b-bed6-be5ea8eace55
type: derived