Malicious PowerShell Masquerading as wt.exe in ProgramData via Axios npm Compromise (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a PowerShell binary renamed to wt.exe and executed from ProgramData, a masquerading technique used by the malicious postinstall payload delivered through the compromised Axios npm package. Adversaries rename PowerShell to evade name-based detection while running follow-on scripts, so a PowerShell OriginalFileName under a wt.exe in ProgramData is a strong indicator of the supply chain implant.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious PowerShell Masquerading as wt.exe in ProgramData via Axios npm Compromise (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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