Malicious mshta Inline JavaScript GetObject Scriptlet Execution

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-11-03
Updated
2026-11-03

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects mshta executing an inline javascript scriptlet that pulls a remote script object which is the LOLBIN execution primitive used in the Cobalt Kitty chain described by WithSecure. This technique proxies execution of an attacker hosted scriptlet through a trusted signed binary to evade application controls and fetch a second stage.

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Malicious Remote HTA Download and Execution via mshta by UAC-0050 (via process_creation)
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Malicious mshta Launching WScript VBScript Loader
Suspicious Kimsuky Remote HTA Payload Execution via mshta (via process_creation)
Malicious mshta Inline JavaScript GetObject Scriptlet Execution
Pivot detection · T1218.005 · 9 related

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