Suspicious Arbitrary File Download Through MSOHTMED.EXE (via process_creation)
This rule detects use of "MSOHTMED" to download arbitrary files
SigmamediumWindowsv1
sigma
suspicious-arbitrary-file-download-through-msohtmed-exe-via-process-creation
title: Suspicious Arbitrary File Download Through MSOHTMED.EXE (via process_creation)
id: c5d849da-a18f-5b59-9272-25ed7719f101
status: stable
description: This rule detects use of "MSOHTMED" to download arbitrary files
references:
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/
- https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/238/files
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-07-14
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1218
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: '\MSOHTMED.exe'
- OriginalFileName: 'MsoHtmEd.exe'
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains:
- 'ftp://'
- 'http://'
- 'https://'
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
Known false positives
- Unknown
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.