Suspicious Office Application Spawning Script Interpreter (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1221Template Injection
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects Excel or Word spawning a scripting interpreter such as wscript or powershell which the DarkGate remote template injection chain triggers to move from a malicious document to a VBS and PowerShell stager. Office applications launching script hosts is a hallmark of macro and template based initial access.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Office Application Spawning Script Interpreter (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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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