Sigma rule: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-d69816a7e447, updated 2023-01-04T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community
Date
2020-10-08
Modified
2023-01-04
File
rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_invoke_obfuscation_via_use_mhsta.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects Obfuscated Powershell via use MSHTA in Scripts

Log source

product
windows
category
ps_module
definition
0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b

Detection

selection:
    Payload|contains|all:
        - 'set'
        - '&&'
        - 'mshta'
        - 'vbscript:createobject'
        - '.run'
        - '(window.close)'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Unknown

Tags

  • attack.stealth
  • attack.t1027
  • attack.execution
  • attack.t1059.001

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

Related rules

References

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_invoke_obfuscation_via_use_mhsta.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module" by Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_module/posh_pm_invoke_obfuscation_via_use_mhsta.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Invoke-Obfuscation Via Use MSHTA - PowerShell Module",
entity page, dataset version ref-d69816a7e447, updated 2023-01-04T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/07ad2ea8-6a55-4ac6-bf3e-91b8e59676eb (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 07ad2ea8-6a55-4ac6-bf3e-91b8e59676eb, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.