Suspicious Office Application Spawning Script Interpreter Chain

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell
- T1059.005Visual Basic
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects Microsoft Word spawning a command shell or PowerShell that in turn is associated with script-host execution, a chain observed in a WizardSpider-themed intrusion where winword launched cmd or PowerShell leading to cscript. It captures the transition from a weaponized document to interactive command execution. Detecting this parent-child relationship is important because productivity applications launching shells is a strong indicator of malicious macro or exploit activity.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.003 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Rename of Text File to Script via Move Command

Malicious RoKRAT Staged Loader Files in Temp via LNK (via file_event)

Malicious Command Execution Spawned by SharePoint w3wp Worker Process

Suspicious Office Application Spawning Script Interpreter Chain

Pivot detection · T1059.003 · 9 related

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