macOS AppleScript Execution via osascript with -e, .scpt, or .js

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.002AppleScript
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

Related detections9 linkedT1059.002 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Osascript Requesting Administrator Privileges (via process_creation)

Malicious Remote Script Piped to a Shell on macOS (via process_creation)

AppleScript do-shell-script Abuse via Osascript (via process_creation)

Suspicious AppleScript Payload Execution via osascript (macOS)

Suspicious AppleScript Execution Spawning a Shell via Osascript

Suspicious osascript Execution of Encoded AppleScript on macOS (via process_creation)

Suspicious Credential Prompt Phishing via osascript (via process_creation)

Malicious ClickFix Stager Piping curl Output to osascript

Suspicious Shell Execution Referencing Mounted DMG Volume via Terminal (macOS)

macOS AppleScript Execution via osascript with -e, .scpt, or .js

Pivot detection · T1059.002 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No 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.

macos-process-execution-of-osascript-running-applescript-scripts-1bc2e6c5

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

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