Windows: FakeUpdates/SocGholish execution via wscript loading a zip-based update script

Flags wscript launched from Temp update .js within a .zip to spawn cmd.exe or PowerShell on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: @kostastsale (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-16
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows process creation where wscript.exe is the parent, launching cmd.exe or PowerShell based on an associated execution chain. It matches a parent command line containing a local Temp path and a zip filename with an update-related .js script, along with common browser process names. This matters because it reflects malware-style staging where a script is launched from a packaged download and then hands off to command-line tooling. Telemetry required is Windows process creation events including parent image/command line and the child image.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: FakeUpdates/SocGholish execution via wscript loading a zip-based update script

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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-socgholish-fakeupdates-execution-via-wscript-launching-cmd-or-powershell-97805087

title: "Windows: FakeUpdates/SocGholish execution via wscript loading a zip-based update script"
id: 07a18885-03bc-45fd-b7b7-a4b132c93240
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows process creation where wscript.exe is the parent, launching cmd.exe or PowerShell based on an associated execution chain. It matches a parent command line containing a local Temp path and a zip filename with an update-related .js script, along with common browser process names. This matters because it reflects malware-style staging where a script is launched from a packaged download and then hands off to command-line tooling. Telemetry required is Windows process creation events including parent image/command line and the child image.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/th3_protoCOL/status/1536788652889497600
  - https://twitter.com/1ZRR4H/status/1537501582727778304
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2022/Malware/SocGholish/proc_creation_win_malware_socgholish_fakeupdates_activity.yml
author: "@kostastsale, Huntrule Team"
date: 2022-06-16
modified: 2024-08-23
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: \wscript.exe
    ParentCommandLine|contains|all:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp
      - .zip
      - update
      - .js
    ParentCommandLine|contains:
      - Chrome
      - Edge
      - Firefox
      - Opera
      - Brave
      - Vivaldi
    Image|endswith:
      - \cmd.exe
      - \powershell.exe
      - \pwsh.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 97805087-93ab-4203-b5cb-287cda6aecaa
    type: derived

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