Suspicious AutoIt3 Compiled Script Execution via A3X File

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-06
Updated
2026-09-06

ATT&CK techniques

Execution
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Persistence

  5. Priv Esc

  6. Defense Evasion

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects AutoIt3.exe executing a compiled .a3x script, a technique used by CastleLoader to run obfuscated AutoIt payloads dropped by an Inno Setup installer. Compiled AutoIt scripts are commonly abused by loaders to stage further code injection.

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.