Suspicious mshta or wscript Spawned by Explorer via ClickFix Run Dialog (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1204.002Malicious File
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects mshta.exe or wscript.exe being launched directly by explorer.exe, the signature of the ClickFix social engineering technique where the victim pastes a malicious command into the Windows Run dialog. Lumma Stealer uses this flow to execute its loader without a downloaded file on disk. A script host started from explorer through the Run prompt is unusual and warrants inspection.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious mshta or wscript Spawned by Explorer via ClickFix Run Dialog (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1204.002 · 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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