huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Wscript.Shell.Run keyword sequence in CommandLine

Alerts on Windows command lines containing Wscript.Shell.Run keyword sequence, suggesting script-driven shell execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-31
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 Windows process creation events whose CommandLine contains a specific keyword sequence: "Wscript.", ".Shell", and ".Run". Attackers may use Windows Script Host (Wscript) to execute script-driven automation and invoke shell actions, which can align with suspicious launcher behavior. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and string matching within the CommandLine field.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Wscript.Shell.Run keyword sequence in CommandLine
Pivot detection · T1059 · 9 related

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