Suspicious Mshta Execution of Remote Payload from Explorer via ClickFix Lure (via process_creation)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-07-29
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Persistence

  5. Priv Esc

  6. Defense Evasion

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects mshta launched by explorer with a remote http argument, the ClickFix fake CAPTCHA pattern where a user pastes an attacker command into the Run dialog to fetch a remote HTA.

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious Interlock Fake Updater Executable Execution
Malicious Office Application Loading a User-Path DLL via Regsvr32 or Rundll32 (via process_creation)
Suspicious Program Execution From a Mounted ISO or Disk Image (via process_creation)
SocGholish Fake Browser Update Script Execution (via process_creation)
Malicious Shell Spawned by Mshta Delivery (via process_creation)
Malicious Kimsuky Remote HTA Execution via URL Shortener (via process_creation)
ClickFix Paste-Jacking Execution of mshta Retrieving Remote Payload (via process_creation)
Suspicious Mshta Execution of Remote Payload from Explorer via ClickFix Lure (via process_creation)
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.