Script Interpreter Execution From Suspicious Folder

 1title: Script Interpreter Execution From Suspicious Folder
 2id: 1228c958-e64e-4e71-92ad-7d429f4138ba
 3status: test
 4description: |
 5    Detects suspicious script execution from suspicious directories or folders accessible by environment variables that may indicate malware activity.
 6    Script interpreters (cscript, wscript, mshta, powershell) executing from folders like Temp, Public, or user profile directories may suggest attempts to evade detection or execute malicious scripts.    
 7references:
 8    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/91ba814a86ddedc7a9d546e26f912c541205b47a853d227756ab1334ade92c3f
 9    - https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/shuckworm-russia-ukraine-military
10    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/csidl
11author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
12date: 2022-02-08
13modified: 2026-02-17
14tags:
15    - attack.execution
16    - attack.t1059
17logsource:
18    category: process_creation
19    product: windows
20detection:
21    selection_proc_image:
22        Image|endswith:
23            - '\cscript.exe'
24            - '\mshta.exe'
25            - '\wscript.exe'
26    selection_proc_flags:
27        CommandLine|contains:
28            - ' -ep bypass '
29            - ' -ExecutionPolicy bypass '
30            - ' -w hidden '
31            - '/e:javascript '
32            - '/e:Jscript '
33            - '/e:vbscript '
34    selection_proc_original:
35        OriginalFileName:
36            - 'cscript.exe'
37            - 'mshta.exe'
38            - 'wscript.exe'
39    selection_folders_1:
40        CommandLine|contains:
41            - ':\Perflogs\'
42            - ':\Users\Public\'
43            - '\%Public%'
44            - '\AppData\Local\Temp'
45            - '\AppData\Roaming\Temp'
46            - '\Temporary Internet'
47            - '\Windows\Temp'
48            - '\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\'
49            - '%TEMP%'
50            - '%TMP%'
51            - '%LocalAppData%\Temp'
52    selection_folders_2:
53        - CommandLine|contains|all:
54              - ':\Users\'
55              - '\Favorites\'
56        - CommandLine|contains|all:
57              - ':\Users\'
58              - '\Favourites\'
59        - CommandLine|contains|all:
60              - ':\Users\'
61              - '\Contacts\'
62        - CommandLine|contains|all:
63              - ':\Users\'
64              - '\Documents\'
65        - CommandLine|contains|all:
66              - ':\Users\'
67              - '\Music\'
68        - CommandLine|contains|all:
69              - ':\Users\'
70              - '\Pictures\'
71        - CommandLine|contains|all:
72              - ':\Users\'
73              - '\Videos\'
74    filter_optional_chocolatey_installer:
75        ParentImage:
76            - 'C:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe'
77            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Msiexec.exe'
78        Image|endswith: '\powershell.exe'
79        CommandLine|contains|all:
80            - '-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command'
81            - 'AppData\Local\Temp\'
82            - 'Install-Chocolatey.ps1'
83    condition: 1 of selection_proc_* and 1 of selection_folders_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
84falsepositives:
85    - Various legitimate software have been observed to use similar techniques for installation or update purposes;thus, it is recommended to review and tune filters for your environment to reduce false positives before deploying to production.
86level: high