Cisco NVM - Susp Script From Archive Triggering Network Activity
This analytic detects script execution (`wscript.exe` or `cscript.exe`) triggered from compressed files opened directly using `explorer.exe`, `winrar.exe`, or `7zFM.exe`. When a user double clicks on a ".js" file…
Description
This analytic detects script execution (`wscript.exe` or `cscript.exe`) triggered from compressed files opened directly using `explorer.exe`, `winrar.exe`, or `7zFM.exe`. When a user double clicks on a ".js" file from within one of these compressed files. Its extracted temporally in the temp directory in folder with certain markers. It leverages Cisco Network Visibility Module (NVM) flow data, in order to look for a specific parent/child relationship and an initiated network connection. This behavior is exploited by threat actors such as Scarlet Goldfinch to deliver and run malicious scripts as an initial access technique.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- cisco_network_visibility_module_flow_data
Known benign triggers
- Some software installers or automation scripts may extract and run scripts from archive files in temporary directories. However, it is uncommon for such scripts to initiate outbound network connections immediately upon extraction. This behavior should be considered suspicious and investigated, especially in environments where such scripting is not typical.
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 |
|---|---|
| redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/threats/scarlet-goldfinch/ | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 8b07c2c9-0cde-4c44-9fa6-59dcf2b25777
- Tagged by the source as
- Cisco Network Visibility Module AnalyticsEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Version
- 2