huntrule

Windows Wscript/Cscript Initiating Local Network Connection for Script Retrieval

Flags wscript.exe or cscript.exe making connections to local/private destination IP ranges on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
network_connection
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-28
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

C2

  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 network connections where the process initiating the connection is Wscript.exe or Cscript.exe and the destination is a local/private network range. Attackers often use Windows script interpreters to retrieve or execute scripts from shared folders, blending command-and-control activity into normal scripting. The detection relies on network connection telemetry that includes the initiating process and destination IP address.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious EtherRAT Node.js Implant Background Execution via Shell (via process_creation)
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Windows Wscript/Cscript Initiating Local Network Connection for Script Retrieval
Pivot detection · T1105 · 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.