Possible PurpleFox MSHTA to Msiexec Remote MSI Chain

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion → C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.007Msiexec
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1105Ingress Tool Transfer
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects msiexec.exe spawned by mshta.exe to install a remotely hosted MSI package often disguised as an image file. This execution chain matches the PurpleFox loader delivery observed in MSHTA abuse campaigns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1105 — drag to rearrange

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Windows msiexec Process Creation With Web URL Parameters

Suspicious Remote HTA Payload Execution via MSHTA

Antivirus Check and Remote Loader Retrieval in LNK Command Chain

Suspicious PowerShell Hidden Web Download via Invoke-WebRequest by CatB Ransomware

Malicious ActiveMQ Exploitation Java Spawning PowerShell Downloader (via process_creation)

Malicious Sobolan Payload Download from Jupyter Compromise (via process_creation)

Possible PurpleFox MSHTA to Msiexec Remote MSI Chain

Pivot detection · T1105 · 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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