Suspicious Arbitrary File Download Through MSPUB.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Arbitrary File Download Through MSPUB.EXE (via process_creation)
id: e5c3e941-dc75-5f4a-aedd-e86eda0e53db
status: stable
description: This rule detects use of "MSPUB" (Microsoft Publisher) to download arbitrary files
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/238/files
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-18
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\MSPUB.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'MSPUB.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'ftp://'
            - 'http://'
            - 'https://'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium