Windows CScript and csvde Command-Line Execution Patterns Suggesting Cloud Hopper Activity

Detects cscript VBScript shell execution and csvde writing log files into C:\windows\web\.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2017-04-07
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation where execution strings include cscript.exe with a VBS shell invocation, or csvde usage that writes log files to the C:\windows\web directory. Such command-line execution can indicate staging or payload interaction via scripting and directory/database tooling. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching process image endings and specific command-line substrings.

Reporting behind it

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Windows CScript and csvde Command-Line Execution Patterns Suggesting Cloud Hopper Activity

Pivot detection · T1059.005 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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.

windows-process-execution-indicating-cscript-vbscript-and-csvde-web-shell-droppi-966e4016

title: Windows CScript and csvde Command-Line Execution Patterns Suggesting Cloud Hopper Activity
id: 0eefeec6-3e4f-464a-87cc-93a0f37f8409
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process creation where execution strings include cscript.exe with a VBS shell invocation, or csvde usage that writes log files to the C:\windows\web directory. Such command-line execution can indicate staging or payload interaction via scripting and directory/database tooling. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching process image endings and specific command-line substrings.
references:
  - https://web.archive.org/web/20180725233601/https://www.pwc.co.uk/cyber-security/pdf/cloud-hopper-annex-b-final.pdf
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2017/TA/APT10/proc_creation_win_apt_apt10_cloud_hopper.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2017-04-07
modified: 2023-03-08
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.g0045
  - attack.t1059.005
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_cscript:
    Image|endswith: \cscript.exe
    CommandLine|contains: ".vbs /shell "
  selection_csvde:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - csvde -f C:\windows\web\
      - .log
  condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 966e4016-627f-44f7-8341-f394905c361f
    type: derived

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