Malicious Script Host Spawning PowerShell in Gootloader Chain

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule detects the Windows script hosts wscript or cscript launching PowerShell which mirrors the Gootloader execution chain that moved from a scheduled task through script hosts into a PowerShell payload and this matters because a script host spawning PowerShell is a classic fileless loader pattern used by Gootloader and similar JavaScript droppers.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious PsExec Service Launching Encoded PowerShell Payload

Suspicious PowerShell Remote Script Execution via IEX DownloadString

Malicious SharePoint ToolShell Post-Exploitation via Encoded PowerShell (via process_creation)

Suspicious In-Memory PowerShell Execution from Web Server via Automation Assembly (via image_load)

Malicious Qilin Chrome Credential Harvesting Script Execution via IPScanner (via process_creation)

Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Spawned by Script Host via process_creation

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Referencing PowerShell Script via registry_set

Malicious FIN7 Powertrash Loader Execution via Obfuscated PowerShell (via process_creation)

Suspicious XOR Obfuscated PowerShell from ClickFix Distribution

Malicious Script Host Spawning PowerShell in Gootloader Chain

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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