Clipboard Access Via OSAScript

Detects access to clipboard content via osascript, which may be used for data collection but also occurs in legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts

title: Clipboard Access Via OSAScript
id: 7794fa3c-edea-4cff-bec7-267dd4770fd7
related:
    - id: 1bc2e6c5-0885-472b-bed6-be5ea8eace55
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects access to clipboard content via osascript, which may be used for data collection but also occurs in legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts
references:
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/how-offensive-actors-use-applescript-for-attacking-macos/
author: Sohan G (D4rkCiph3r)
date: 2023-01-31
modified: 2026-05-22
tags:
    - attack.collection
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1115
    - attack.t1059.002
logsource:
    product: macos
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/osascript'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' -e '
            - 'clipboard'
    filter_optional_opencode:
        # OpenCode uses osascript to handle copying text from the TUI on MacOS devices. See https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode/blob/ca723f1cbc6fc4244ae57e61e9de8c4e37380ed4/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/util/clipboard.ts#L65 for reference.
        ParentImage|endswith: 'opencode'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'osascript'
            - ' -e '
            - 'set imageData to the clipboard'
            - 'set fileRef'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate clipboard utilities and automation scripts that read or write clipboard content
    - Developer tools and IDEs that use osascript for clipboard integration
level: medium

• T1059.002AppleScript
• T1115Clipboard Data

• https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/how-offensive-actors-use-applescript-for-attacking-macos/↗