Suspicious MSHTA Execution Spawned by Browser or Document Reader via Mispadu (via process_creation)

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 launched by a web browser, PDF reader or mail client, matching the Mispadu delivery chain that moves from an attached PDF to a remotely hosted HTA file. These parent to child relationships are not part of normal document viewing.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious mshta Execution Spawned by Scheduled Task Service Host (via process_creation)

Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation Launching mshta via schtasks (via process_creation)

Suspicious HTA File Dropped into Startup Folder

Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by mshta.exe in FakeSG Chain (via process_creation)

Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Spawned by MSHTA for Boot Persistence (via process_creation)

Malicious HTA Payload Download and Execution via PowerShell One-Liner (via process_creation)

Suspicious MSHTA Execution Spawned by Browser or Document Reader via Mispadu (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.

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