huntrule

Windows Process Creation: cscript/wscript Running gatherNetworkInfo.vbs

Alerts on cscript/wscript processes running gatherNetworkInfo.vbs, indicating potential host/network reconnaissance.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
blueteamer8699 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-01-03
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Discovery

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies execution of the built-in gatherNetworkInfo.vbs script by matching process creation events for cscript.exe or wscript.exe with a command line containing gatherNetworkInfo.vbs. Attackers can use this script to quickly gather host and network information for reconnaissance. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the process image name, original file name, and the full command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.005 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious Script Host Spawning PowerShell With Invoke-Expression (via process_creation)
Suspicious MSHTA VBScript WScript Shell Execution
Malicious Kimsuky VBE Payload Download via Curl to AppData and Execution (via process_creation)
Suspicious winrm.vbs LOLBAS Script Execution for Code Proxying
Malicious LitterDrifter VBScript Execution via wscript trash.dll
Windows Process Creation: cscript/wscript Running gatherNetworkInfo.vbs
Pivot detection · T1059.005 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.