InformationalSplunk security content Radka Viskova +1

MacOS Osascript Displaying Suspicious User Prompt

Description

The following analytic detects the execution of the macOS osascript utility with AppleScript commands that display a dialog or alert containing potentially deceptive, credential-related, or security-themed content. Adversaries may abuse osascript to present fake system messages or credential prompts and trick users into disclosing sensitive information. This detection is based on command-line content and should be reviewed with the parent process, executing user, script content, and surrounding endpoint activity.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform: Linux macOS Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
Log source category: osquery_results

Known benign triggers

Legitimate administrative, MDM, software deployment, support, or automation scripts may use osascript to display dialogs or alerts. Review the parent process, executing user, script content, signer, and known administrative tooling before suppressing the activity.

References

Links the source published beside this detection. Reference is the link the source wrote, unmodified. Class is decided by this catalogue from the host and path, not stated by the source. Cited by counts published detections citing the same resource, including this one, and the sources beneath it count the repositories this catalogue ingests, which is not the same as independent research.
Reference	Class	Cited by
attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/	Taxonomy	8
attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/	Taxonomy	Only this detection cites it
attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1056/002/	Taxonomy	Only this detection cites it
attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/002/	Taxonomy	5
embracethered.com/blog/posts/2021/spoofing-credential-dialogs/	Unclassified	Only this detection cites it
github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1056.002/T1056.002.yaml#L31	Detection test	2
github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1056.002/T1056.002.yaml#L5	Detection test	2
www.infostealers.com/article/an-infostealers-brewin-cuckoo-atomicstealer-get-creative/	Unclassified	Only this detection cites it
www.loobins.io/binaries/osascript/	Unclassified	5
www.sentinelone.com/blog/macos-cuckoo-stealer-ensuring-detection-and-defense-as-new-samples-rapidly-emerge/#cq=i1	Security research	Only this detection cites it

Detection rules

MacOS Osascript Displaying Suspicious User Prompt

Description

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Known benign triggers

MITRE ATT&CK mappings

References

From the source

Licence

Authorship

Detection rules