Suspicious WScript Execution of VBS from NTFS Alternate Data Stream by Cloud Atlas

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.005Visual Basic
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1564.004NTFS File Attributes
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects wscript.exe executing a VBScript hidden inside an NTFS alternate data stream of an AppCache log file. The Cloud Atlas VBCloud backdoor stores its script payload in an ADS to evade file-based scanning. Running a script from a stream referenced by a colon in the path indicates alternate-data-stream execution.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.005 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious WScript Execution of VBS from NTFS Alternate Data Stream by Cloud Atlas

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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