Windows Wscript/Cscript Initiating Local Network Connection for Script Retrieval

ATT&CK techniques

C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1105Ingress Tool Transfer
Exfiltration
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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Windows Wscript/Cscript Initiating Local Network Connection for Script Retrieval

Pivot detection · T1105 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-wscript-cscript-script-interpreter-initiated-local-network-connection-08249dc0

title: Windows Wscript/Cscript Initiating Local Network Connection for Script Retrieval
id: 5c9efd33-faf7-4b1c-8770-9fba408d66f5
related:
  - id: 992a6cae-db6a-43c8-9cec-76d7195c96fc
    type: derived
  - id: 08249dc0-a28d-4555-8ba5-9255a198e08c
    type: derived
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/28d190330fe44de6ff4767fc400cc10fa7cd6540/atomics/T1105/T1105.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_wscript_cscript_local_connection.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-28
modified: 2024-05-31
tags:
  - attack.command-and-control
  - attack.t1105
logsource:
  category: network_connection
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Initiated: "true"
    Image|endswith:
      - \wscript.exe
      - \cscript.exe
    DestinationIp|cidr:
      - 127.0.0.0/8
      - 10.0.0.0/8
      - 172.16.0.0/12
      - 192.168.0.0/16
      - 169.254.0.0/16
      - ::1/128
      - fe80::/10
      - fc00::/7
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate scripts
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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