Suspicious Execution via Compiled HTML File


Description

Identifies when the Microsoft HTML Help Executable (hh.exe) spawn a suspicious child process or open a compiled HTM file from a suspicious location. Adversaries may conceal malicious code in a CHM file and deliver it to a victim for execution.

Query · eql

process where event.action == "start" and
 (
  (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\hh.exe" and
   process.name : ("cmd.exe",
                  "powershell.exe",
                  "MSHTA.EXE",
                  "CertUtil.exe",
                  "CertReq.exe",
                  "rundll32.exe",
                  "regsvr32.exe",
                  "MSbuild.exe",
                  "cscript.exe",
                  "wscript.exe",
                  "installutil.exe",
                  "schtasks.exe",
                  "msiexec.exe")) or

  (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\hh.exe" and (process.code_signature.trusted == false or process.code_signature.exists == false))
  )
Raw source Suspicious Execution via Compiled HTML File · Elastic TOML
Esc
Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
[rule]
description = """
Identifies when the Microsoft HTML Help Executable (hh.exe) spawn a suspicious child process or open a compiled HTM file
from a suspicious location. Adversaries may conceal malicious code in a CHM file and deliver it to a victim for
execution.
"""
id = "e2554e2b-7333-4379-88af-67e5bfac677a"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Suspicious Execution via Compiled HTML File"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = [
    "https://www.ptsecurity.com/ww-en/analytics/pt-esc-threat-intelligence/higaisa-or-winnti-apt-41-backdoors-old-and-new/",
]
version = "1.0.25"

query = '''
process where event.action == "start" and
 (
  (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\hh.exe" and
   process.name : ("cmd.exe",
                  "powershell.exe",
                  "MSHTA.EXE",
                  "CertUtil.exe",
                  "CertReq.exe",
                  "rundll32.exe",
                  "regsvr32.exe",
                  "MSbuild.exe",
                  "cscript.exe",
                  "wscript.exe",
                  "installutil.exe",
                  "schtasks.exe",
                  "msiexec.exe")) or

  (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\hh.exe" and (process.code_signature.trusted == false or process.code_signature.exists == false))
  )
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
tree = true

[[optional_actions]]
action = "rollback"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1566"
name = "Phishing"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1566.001"
name = "Spearphishing Attachment"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0001"
name = "Initial Access"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0001/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1218"
name = "System Binary Proxy Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1218.001"
name = "Compiled HTML File"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/001/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"

Detection rules belong to the projects that publish them and remain under their own licenses. This site indexes and links to them; it claims no rights in them.