Detection rules › Elastic
Windows Script Execution from Archive File
Identifies the execution of a Windows script from an archive file, mounted ISO or IMG path. Adversaries may use this technique to deliver malicious scripts.
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Initial Access | |
| Execution |
Rule body
[rule]
description = """
Identifies the execution of a Windows script from an archive file, mounted ISO or IMG path. Adversaries may use this
technique to deliver malicious scripts.
"""
id = "816e1e39-e1a3-4935-9b7b-18395d244670"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Windows Script Execution from Archive File"
os_list = ["windows"]
version = "1.0.30"
query = '''
process where event.action == "start" and
user.id like ("S-1-5-21*", "S-1-12-*") and process.name : "wscript.exe" and
(
/* execution from archive temp file */
process.args : ("?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\7z*", "?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\Rar$*", "?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\Temp?_*") or
/* execution from mounted ISO or IMG */
(process.parent.name : ("explorer.exe", "cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and process.working_directory : "?:\\" and
not process.args : "?:\\Windows\\System32\\winrm.vbs" and not process.working_directory : "C:\\")
) and
not (process.name : "cscript.exe" and process.command_line : "cscript C:\\splitwindow.vbs" and
process.parent.args : "C:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\*.bat") and
not (process.args : "?:\\Program Files\\nodejs" and process.args : "rmdir" and process.name : "wscript.exe") and
not process.command_line :
("\"wscript.exe\" pbcdstart.vbs",
"cscript C:\\splitwindow.vbs",
"\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WScript.exe\" \"D:\\CargaExpedientesProd.vbs\" ")
'''
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
[[optional_actions]]
action = "rollback"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1566"
name = "Phishing"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1566.001"
name = "Spearphishing Attachment"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/"
[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0001"
name = "Initial Access"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0001/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1059"
name = "Command and Scripting Interpreter"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.007"
name = "JavaScript"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/007/"
[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0002"
name = "Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"
[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
Stages and Predicates
Stage 1: process
process where event.action == "start" and
user.id like ("S-1-5-21*", "S-1-12-*") and process.name : "wscript.exe" and
(
process.args : ("?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\7z*", "?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\Rar$*", "?:\\Users\\*\\Temp\\Temp?_*") or
(process.parent.name : ("explorer.exe", "cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and process.working_directory : "?:\\" and
not process.args : "?:\\Windows\\System32\\winrm.vbs" and not process.working_directory : "C:\\")
) and
not (process.name : "cscript.exe" and process.command_line : "cscript C:\\splitwindow.vbs" and
process.parent.args : "C:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\*.bat") and
not (process.args : "?:\\Program Files\\nodejs" and process.args : "rmdir" and process.name : "wscript.exe") and
not process.command_line :
("\"wscript.exe\" pbcdstart.vbs",
"cscript C:\\splitwindow.vbs",
"\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WScript.exe\" \"D:\\CargaExpedientesProd.vbs\" ")
Exclusions
The rule actively suppresses these predicates.
| Field | Kind | Excluded values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
process.args | eq | ?:\Program Files\nodejs | excludes:process.args field:"process.args" value:"?:\Program Files\nodejs" |
process.args | eq | rmdir | excludes:process.args field:"process.args" value:"rmdir" |
process.name | eq | wscript.exe | excludes:process.name field:"process.name" value:"wscript.exe" |
process.command_line | eq | cscript C:\splitwindow.vbs | excludes:process.command_line field:"process.command_line" value:"cscript C:\splitwindow.vbs" |
process.name | eq | cscript.exe | excludes:process.name field:"process.name" value:"cscript.exe" |
process.parent.args | wildcard | C:\Users\*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\*.bat | excludes:process.parent.args field:"process.parent.args" value:"C:\Users\*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\*.bat" |
process.command_line | eq | "wscript.exe" pbcdstart.vbs, cscript C:\splitwindow.vbs, "C:\WINDOWS\System32\WScript.exe" "D:\CargaExpedientesProd.vbs" | excludes:process.command_line |
Indicators
These rows show field, operator, and value matches.
| Field | Kind | Values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
event.action | eq |
| field:"EventType" kind:eq value:"start" |
process.args | wildcard |
| field:"process.args" kind:wildcard |
process.name | wildcard |
| field:"process_name" kind:wildcard value:"wscript.exe" |
process.parent.name | wildcard |
| field:"parent_process_name" kind:wildcard |
process.working_directory | wildcard |
| field:"CurrentDirectory" kind:wildcard value:"?:\" |
user.id | wildcard |
| field:"user.id" kind:wildcard |