Suspicious MSBuild Execution of MSHI Metafile via cmd (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.008Odbcconf
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects cmd.exe launching msbuild with a metafile that has an mshi extension a loader pattern used by the PipeMagic backdoor. PipeMagic was seen in RansomExx activity and in exploitation of the CVE-2025-29824 privilege escalation. Abusing the trusted MSBuild binary to compile and run an inline task lets the operator execute code while evading application controls.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.008 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious DLL Execution via Odbcconf LOLBIN (via process_creation)

Windows: Odbcconf.EXE INSTALLDRIVER Use With Missing .dll Target

Windows Process Execution of Odbcconf.exe with -f Response File Flag

Windows: Detect Odbcconf.exe INSTALLDRIVER DLL Installation via Process Command Line

Windows Odbcconf.EXE Response File Execution via -f Flag

Windows Process Execution: odbcconf.exe with DLL in Suspicious Path

Windows: Uncommon Child Process Spawned by Odbcconf.EXE

Windows: Odbcconf.exe used to register a DLL via REGSVR

Windows: Suspicious Odbcconf.EXE REGSVR usage with non-DLL-suffixed target

Suspicious MSBuild Execution of MSHI Metafile via cmd (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1218.008 · 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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