Suspicious Cscript Execution From Alternate Data Stream

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.005Visual Basic
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1564.004NTFS File Attributes
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects cscript.exe being invoked against a script hidden inside an NTFS Alternate Data Stream, identified by a colon inside the referenced path. In the WithSecure Code Execution and Persistence Lab 1 the Astaroth loader stores its scripts in ADS and runs them with cscript to stay off the visible filesystem. Attackers use ADS execution to conceal payloads and defeat naive file listing.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Cscript Execution From Alternate Data Stream

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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