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MediumSplunk security contentMichael Haag +1

Windows MSHTA Writing to World Writable Path

The following analytic identifies instances of `mshta.exe` writing files to world-writable directories. It leverages Sysmon EventCode 11 logs to detect file write operations by `mshta.exe` to directories like…

Description

The following analytic identifies instances of `mshta.exe` writing files to world-writable directories. It leverages Sysmon EventCode 11 logs to detect file write operations by `mshta.exe` to directories like `C:\Windows\Tasks` and `C:\Windows\Temp`. This activity is significant as it often indicates an attempt to establish persistence or execute malicious code, deviating from the utility's legitimate use. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to the execution of multi-stage payloads, potentially resulting in full system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
Windows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_eventid_11

Known benign triggers

  • False positives may occur if legitimate processes are writing to world-writable directories. It is recommended to investigate the context of the file write operation to determine if it is malicious or not. Modify the search to include additional known good paths for `mshta.exe` to reduce false positives.

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