huntrule

Suspicious Copy of System mshta.exe into ProgramData by SideWinder APT

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-26
Updated
2026-09-26
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a command copying the System32 mshta.exe binary into ProgramData, as used by SideWinder to stage a disguised HTA runner. The relocated copy is later renamed and used to execute a remote HTA payload. Copying a system LOLBin out of System32 is a hallmark of masquerading.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Renamed mshta.exe Execution by SideWinder APT
Suspicious MSHTA Execution Spawned by Browser or Document Reader via Mispadu (via process_creation)
Suspicious Office Application Spawning Mshta With Remote HTA
Suspicious MSHTA VBScript WScript Shell Execution
Suspicious Remote HTA Payload Execution via MSHTA
Malicious Shell Spawned by Mshta Delivery (via process_creation)
Malicious Kimsuky Remote HTA Execution via URL Shortener (via process_creation)
ClickFix Paste-Jacking Execution of mshta Retrieving Remote Payload (via process_creation)
Suspicious mshta Execution of Remote HTA Payload
Suspicious Copy of System mshta.exe into ProgramData by SideWinder APT
Pivot detection · T1218.005 · 9 related

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