Suspicious search-ms Protocol Handler Abuse for Remote Payload via PureHVNC (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1204.001Malicious Link
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the PureHVNC delivery chain abusing the search-ms URI protocol handler to present a remote malicious LNK disguised with a PDF icon from a WebDAV share. Command lines invoking the search-ms protocol are a known phishing staging technique. This step precedes the Python multi stage loader.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious search-ms Protocol Handler Abuse for Remote Payload via PureHVNC (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1204.001 · 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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