Suspicious AutoIt3 Execution With Compiled Script Argument via Process Creation

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.005Visual Basic
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects AutoIt3.exe invoked with a compiled .au3 script passed on the command line. DarkGate loader campaigns abuse the signed AutoIt3 interpreter to execute an obfuscated script.au3 payload, blending malicious execution into legitimate scripting activity to evade detection.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.005 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Script Host Spawned by cmd for DarkGate Execution

Suspicious GammaLoad VBScript Execution via wscript.exe (via process_creation)

Suspicious Node Package Install Spawning Script Interpreters via process_creation

Suspicious AutoIt3 Execution With Compiled Script Argument via Process Creation

Pivot detection · T1059.005 · 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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