Suspicious Search-ms URI Handler Abuse to Remote Share

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1204.002Malicious File
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects command lines invoking the search-ms protocol handler with a remote location parameter, a technique that presents attacker-hosted SMB shares as local search results to trick users into launching malware disguised as documents. This was observed in a fake AnyDesk lure where an LNK masqueraded as a PDF. Search-ms abuse pointing to a remote share is a hallmark of social-engineered initial access.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Search-ms URI Handler Abuse to Remote Share

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 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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