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
Malicious FIN7 Powertrash Loader Execution via Obfuscated PowerShell (via process_creation)
Suspicious XOR Obfuscated PowerShell from ClickFix Distribution
Suspicious PowerShell Executing Code from Environment Variable (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory Runspace Execution via PowerShell Script Block
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Using Base64 Stream Decompression Routines (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell In-Memory Execution with AES Decryption
Suspicious Encoded PowerShell Command Execution
Suspicious PEAKLIGHT Memory-Only PowerShell Downloader Flags (via process_creation)
Obfuscated PowerShell Script: Indirect Cmdlet Execution via ExportedCommands Array Index
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.