Suspicious Execution from VS Code Extension
Detects suspicious process execution launched from a VS Code extension context (parent command line contains .vscode/extensions). Malicious extensions can run on startup and drop or execute payloads (e.g. RATs like…
Description
Detects suspicious process execution launched from a VS Code extension context (parent command line contains .vscode/extensions). Malicious extensions can run on startup and drop or execute payloads (e.g. RATs like ScreenConnect, script interpreters, or download utilities). This covers both script/LOLBin children and recently created executables from non-Program Files paths, as seen in campaigns such as the fake Clawdbot extension that installed ScreenConnect RAT.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteSaaSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 5 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1195/002/ | 3 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/ | Only this detection cites it |
| www.aikido.dev/blog/fake-clawdbot-vscode-extension-malware | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- c3d4e5f6-a7b8-6c9d-0e1f-2a3b4c5d6e7f
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Elastic DefendDomain: EndpointNoise: MediumOS: WindowsPerformance: NormalPlatform: WindowsProfile: RecommendedResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)Tactic: ExecutionTactic: Initial AccessThreat: Living off the LandThreat: Supply ChainUse Case: Threat Detection
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3