huntrule

Windows Security EID 4697: mshta Used to Run Obfuscated VBScript PowerShell

Detects service creation where the binary path includes mshta plus VBS/automation indicators consistent with script-based obfuscation.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
security
Author
Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-09
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 Security audit events (EID 4697) where the installed service file name contains mshta along with VBScript automation patterns commonly used to execute obfuscated PowerShell. Attackers may use this technique to hide intent and launch script-based execution via mshta. Detection relies on Security log telemetry capturing the ServiceFileName string for EID 4697 and matching required substrings.

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 Security EID 4697: mshta Used to Run Obfuscated VBScript PowerShell
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.