Suspicious Script Host Executing VBScript from System32 via Command Line

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule detects wscript or cscript executing a VBScript located in the System32 directory, an anomaly Parallax RAT creates by staging a network reconnaissance script there and running it via a scheduled task. Legitimate user scripts rarely live in System32. Detecting the execution exposes discovery activity hiding in a system path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.005 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious WScript VBS Execution from Temp Directory in CVE-2023-36884 Exploit Chain

Suspicious VBScript Execution from ProgramLogs Directory via Windows Script Host

Malicious Script Execution via Cisco AnyConnect OnConnect Handler Abuse

Malicious rundll32 IternalJob Export Spawned by wscript (via process_creation)

Suspicious System Reconnaissance via Windows Script Host

Suspicious Creation of PROMPTFLUX Thinking Robot Log in Temp

Suspicious wscript Execution of MicrosoftEdgeUpdate VBS Masquerade

Suspicious Script Host Executing VBScript from System32 via Command Line

Pivot detection · T1059.005 · 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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