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Windows Process Creation: svchost.exe Spawns mshta.exe (LethalHTA)

Alerts on Windows instances where svchost.exe spawns mshta.exe, indicating potential LethalHTA execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Markus Neis (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2018-06-07
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  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 flags process creation events where svchost.exe (parent) launches mshta.exe (child), matching a potential LethalHTA-style execution chain. Attackers may use mshta to run hostile script content via signed Microsoft binaries, aiming for stealth and user/process trust. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry that provides parent and child process image paths.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.005 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Metasploit Stager Delivery via mshta Remote HTA (via process_creation)
Malicious mshta Launching WScript VBScript Loader
Suspicious Kimsuky Remote HTA Payload Execution via mshta (via process_creation)
Suspicious mshta Execution of Inline JavaScript
Suspicious Command Interpreter Spawned by mshta (via process_creation)
Suspicious mshta Execution Spawned by Scheduled Task Service Host (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation Launching mshta via schtasks (via process_creation)
Suspicious HTA File Dropped into Startup Folder
Suspicious PowerShell Spawned by mshta.exe in FakeSG Chain (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: svchost.exe Spawns mshta.exe (LethalHTA)
Pivot detection · T1218.005 · 9 related

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