Suspicious HTA File Dropped into Startup Folder

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
- T1218.005Mshta
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of an HTA file inside the user Startup folder. Gamaredon abuses a WinRAR path traversal flaw to place an HTA into Startup for persistence in the GammaPhish chain. Auto-executed HTML applications in a Startup directory are almost always malicious persistence.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Mshta Autorun Persistence via Registry Set

Suspicious Registry Run Key Referencing Public Libraries Folder (via registry_set)

Malicious Registry Run Key Persistence Using Scarlet Goldfinch OFFICE and DIVXX Values (via registry_set)

Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by mshta.exe in FakeSG Chain (via process_creation)

Suspicious Internet Shortcut URL File Registered for Run Key Persistence (via registry_set)

Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Spawned by MSHTA for Boot Persistence (via process_creation)

Malicious HTA Payload Download and Execution via PowerShell One-Liner (via process_creation)

Malicious Run Key Persistence Named SystemAgentService

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to ProgramData Executable (via registry_set)

Suspicious HTA File Dropped into Startup Folder

Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 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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