Malicious mshta Spawning PowerShell Loader via ClickFix

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.005Mshta
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects mshta.exe spawning PowerShell, the loader chain used by a ClickFix campaign that buries XOR-encoded shellcode in images before injecting into explorer.exe. The mshta stage decodes and launches PowerShell to deliver LummaC2 or Rhadamanthys stealers. mshta parenting PowerShell is a strong indicator of scripted malware execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Forfiles Proxy Execution Launching PowerShell and MSHTA in PEAKLIGHT Chain (via process_creation)

Malicious ClickFix PowerShell Launching mshta with Remote URL (via process_creation)

Suspicious PowerShell Query of MSHTA Application Class in PEAKLIGHT Chain (via ps_script)

Windows: PowerShell-triggered HTA retrieval and execution with registry and process disruption

Suspicious mshta Downloading Remote Payload via ClickFix

Suspicious Windows Script Host Spawning PowerShell via Gootloader

Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by Web Browser

Malicious ClickFix Execution via Headless Conhost

Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning PowerShell via Gladinet CentreStack Exploit

Malicious mshta Spawning PowerShell Loader via ClickFix

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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