Malicious Remote HTA Execution Disguised as Media File via mshta (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

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

What it detects

This rule detects mshta.exe executing a remote HTA payload whose URL is disguised with an audio or video file extension. The ClearFake ClickFix variant delivers its loader as an HTA masquerading as an mp3 mp4 or m4a file fetched over HTTP. Combining the mshta living-off-the-land binary with a remote media-named URL is a reliable indicator of drive-by compromise.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious HTA Payload Download and Execution via PowerShell One-Liner (via process_creation)

Suspicious RunMRU Entry Launching LOLBIN via ClickFix Run Dialog

Suspicious mshta Executing Remote Content via ClickFix Lure

Suspicious mshta Launched from Explorer via ClickFix Run Dialog (via process_creation)

Suspicious msdt Execution of Audio Diagnostic via UNC1069 ClickFix

Suspicious PowerShell Loader Spawned by mshta via UNC5142 ClickFix

Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by mshta

Malicious Remote HTA Execution Disguised as Media File via mshta (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1218.005 · 9 related

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