Suspicious PIF AutoIt Interpreter Executing a3x Compiled Script
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-09
- Updated
- 2026-10-09
ATT&CK techniques
ExecutionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects a renamed AutoIt interpreter with a .pif extension executing a compiled .a3x script. This packaging is used in Lumma Stealer delivery to run obfuscated AutoIt payloads while hiding the interpreter behind an unusual extension. The .pif image plus .a3x argument is a strong behavioral indicator of AutoIt-based loaders.
Reporting behind it
- securelist.comhttps://securelist.com/lumma-fake-captcha-attacks-analysis/116274/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/010/
- securelist.comhttps://securelist.com/angry-likho-apt-attacks-with-lumma-stealer/115663/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/003/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/002/
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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