title: MSHTA Spawning Windows Shell
id: 03cc0c25-389f-4bf8-b48d-11878079f1ca
status: experimental
description: Detects a Windows command line executable started from MSHTA.
references:
    - https://www.trustedsec.com/july-2015/malicious-htas/
author: Michael Haag
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage: '*\mshta.exe'
        Image:
            - '*\cmd.exe'
            - '*\powershell.exe'
            - '*\wscript.exe'
            - '*\cscript.exe'
            - '*\sh.exe'
            - '*\bash.exe'
            - '*\reg.exe'
            - '*\regsvr32.exe'
            - '*\BITSADMIN*'
    condition: selection
fields:
    - CommandLine
    - ParentCommandLine
tags:
    - attack.defense_evasion
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1170
    - car.2013-02-003
    - car.2013-03-001
    - car.2014-04-003
falsepositives:
    - Printer software / driver installations
    - HP software
level: high