Suspicious ClickFix Clipboard PowerShell Execution from Run Dialog
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-12
- Updated
- 2026-10-12
ATT&CK techniques
ExecutionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects PowerShell launched directly by explorer.exe while fetching and executing remote content inline, matching the ClickFix fake-CAPTCHA lure that tricks users into pasting an attacker command into the Windows Run prompt to stage the LOSTKEYS downloader. This user-driven execution grants COLDRIVER an initial foothold without dropping a file to disk.
Reporting behind it
- cloud.google.comhttps://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/coldriver-steal-documents-western-targets-ngos
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/004/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/
- cloud.google.comhttps://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/dprk-adopts-etherhiding
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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