MMC Loading Script Engines DLLs

experimentalmedium

log source: windows · image_loadauthor Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)date 2025-02-05

description

What this is, in brief.

Detects when the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) loads the DLL libraries like vbscript, jscript etc which might indicate an attempt to execute malicious scripts within a trusted system process for bypassing application whitelisting or defense evasion.

rule source (YAML)

title: MMC Loading Script Engines DLLs
id: a9c73e8b-3b2d-4c45-8ef2-5f9a9c9998ad
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects when the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) loads the DLL libraries like vbscript, jscript etc which might indicate an attempt
    to execute malicious scripts within a trusted system process for bypassing application whitelisting or defense evasion.
references:
    - https://tria.ge/241015-l98snsyeje/behavioral2
    - https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/grimresource
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-02-05
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059.005
    - attack.t1218.014
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\mmc.exe'
        ImageLoaded|endswith:
            - '\vbscript.dll'
            - '\jscript.dll'
            - '\jscript9.dll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate MMC operations or extensions loading these libraries
level: medium

detects techniques (2)

ATT&CK techniques this enables or maps to.

references

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.