Malicious Excel Macro Spawning Scripting Interpreter Downloader (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects Microsoft Excel spawning a scripting interpreter such as PowerShell, WScript, or cmd, the macro execution chain described in Deep Instinct's Regex Gone Rogue analysis. A weaponized xlsm macro uses WScript.Shell to launch PowerShell that downloads and runs a batch file. This indicates user-executed macro abuse leading to remote payload download and code execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Excel Macro Spawning Scripting Interpreter Downloader (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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