huntrule

Windows Process Execution: Obfuscated PowerShell Invocation Using mshta with VBScript CreateObject

Flags Windows process command lines containing an obfuscated PowerShell+MSHTA VBScript execution pattern.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-08
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → 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 Windows process creation events whose command line contains a set of strings associated with launching mshta to execute a VBScript CreateObject and run code. Attackers use this pattern to obfuscate execution and leverage mshta to run script content without relying on direct script interpreters. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and exact string containment across the full command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1027 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell
Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess
Suspicious PS1Bot PowerShell Payload Written to ProgramData (via file_event)
Malicious Non-Interactive Encoded PowerShell Stager (via process_creation)
Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Executing Substring of Dropped File
PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)
Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)
Suspicious PowerShell AES Decryption and Reflective Method Invocation in SolarMarker
Windows Process Execution: Obfuscated PowerShell Invocation Using mshta with VBScript CreateObject
Pivot detection · T1027 · 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.