Suspicious System Reconnaissance via Windows Script Host
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-12
- Updated
- 2026-10-12
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → DiscoveryRecon
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 a Windows Script Host process (wscript or cscript) spawning built-in reconnaissance utilities such as systeminfo, ipconfig, net view and tasklist, matching the LOSTKEYS VBS payload used by COLDRIVER to profile compromised hosts. This host-profiling burst precedes credential and document theft against Western government and NGO targets.
Reporting behind it
- cloud.google.comhttps://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/coldriver-steal-documents-western-targets-ngos
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1082/
- 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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