Suspicious MMC Loading Script Engines DLLs (via image_load)

title: Suspicious MMC Loading Script Engines DLLs (via image_load)
id: 2abee8bc-ddb4-5981-833b-68e9980917b1
status: stable
description: This rule detects when the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) loads the DLL libraries like vbscript, jscript etc which might indicate an attempt to execute hostile scripts within a trusted system process for bypassing application whitelisting or defense evasion.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/014/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005/
    - https://tria.ge/241015-l98snsyeje/behavioral2
    - https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/grimresource
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-02
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.005
    - attack.t1218.014
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\mmc.exe'
        ImageLoaded|endswith:
            - '\vbscript.dll'
            - '\jscript.dll'
            - '\jscript9.dll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium