Suspicious LNK File Created In Startup Folder For Persistence
- Product
- windows
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-02
- Updated
- 2026-10-02
ATT&CK techniques
Persistence → Priv EscRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects creation of a shortcut file inside a user or common Startup folder, a persistence technique used by the updated Gootloader to relaunch its paired JavaScript on logon. The loader drops a .LNK next to its .JS so the chain re-executes at each boot. Startup-folder shortcut writes outside of software installation warrant review.
Reporting behind it
- intel471.comhttps://www.intel471.com/blog/gootloader-malware-update
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/001/
- intel471.comhttps://www.intel471.com/blog/emotet-malware-update-and-development
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/009/
- securelist.comhttps://securelist.com/janelarat-financial-threat-in-latin-america/119332/
- blog.talosintelligence.comhttps://blog.talosintelligence.com/ps1bot-malvertising-campaign/
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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