Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by mshta.exe in FakeSG Chain (via process_creation)
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-24
- Updated
- 2026-10-24
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects mshta.exe spawning powershell.exe, the FakeSG execution chain Red Canary highlighted where a malicious HTA launches PowerShell to continue the infection. The HTML Application host launching PowerShell is uncommon in legitimate activity, so this parent-child pairing indicates script-based execution through a living-off-the-land binary.
Reporting behind it
- redcanary.comhttps://redcanary.com/blog/threat-detection/kens-guide-to-cybersecurity/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/005/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/
- cybereason.comhttps://www.cybereason.com/blog/threat-analysis-rise-of-lummastealer
- cybereason.comhttps://www.cybereason.com/blog/threat-analysis-lummastealer-2.0
- cyble.comhttps://cyble.com/blog/unveiling-the-stealthy-exploitation-of-microsoft-cmstp-using-malicious-lnk-files/
- securonix.comhttps://www.securonix.com/blog/jssmuggler-multi-stage-hidden-iframes-obfuscated-javascript-silent-redirectors-netsupport-rat-delivery/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218.005/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059.001/
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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