Suspicious mshta.exe Executing Remote Media-Extension URL

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.005Mshta
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects mshta.exe invoked against a resource with a media file extension such as mp3 mp4 or png that actually hosts embedded HTA script. This proxy-execution trick is used by Lumma Stealer fake CAPTCHA campaigns to disguise the payload behind a benign-looking media URL. Detecting the mismatched extension exposes the living-off-the-land download and execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Mshta Spawned by WMI or WinRM Provider via process_creation

Suspicious mshta.exe Executing Embedded JavaScript from LNK Chain (via process_creation)

Suspicious VBScript Code Stored in CurrentVersion Registry Value

Suspicious rundll32 or mshta Proxy Execution of VBScript

Suspicious mshta Execution of Remote or Inline Payload (via process_creation)

Suspicious mshta Execution Proxied Through pcalua LOLBIN

Suspicious mshta Downloading Remote Payload via ClickFix

Malicious mshta Spawning PowerShell Loader via ClickFix

Suspicious Remote HTA Execution via mshta over HTTP

Suspicious mshta.exe Executing Remote Media-Extension URL

Pivot detection · T1218.005 · 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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