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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
Suspicious MSHTA Execution Spawned by Browser or Document Reader via Mispadu (via process_creation)
Suspicious Office Application Spawning Mshta With Remote HTA
Suspicious MSHTA VBScript WScript Shell Execution
Suspicious Remote HTA Payload Execution via MSHTA
Malicious Shell Spawned by Mshta Delivery (via process_creation)
Malicious Kimsuky Remote HTA Execution via URL Shortener (via process_creation)
ClickFix Paste-Jacking Execution of mshta Retrieving Remote Payload (via process_creation)
Suspicious mshta Execution of Remote HTA Payload
Suspicious Mshta Executed From Non-System Path (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.