Sigma rule: NodeJS Execution of JavaScript File

Rule

Title

NodeJS Execution of JavaScript File

Status

experimental

Level

low

Author

Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)

Date

2025-04-21

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_security_susp_node_js_execution.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects execution of JavaScript or JSC files using NodeJs binary node.exe, that could be potentially suspicious.
Node.js is a popular open-source JavaScript runtime that runs code outside browsers and is widely used for both frontend and backend development.
Adversaries have been observed abusing Node.js to disguise malware as legitimate processes, evade security defenses, and maintain persistence within target systems.
Because Node.js is commonly used, this rule may generate false positives in some environments. However, if such activity is unusual in your environment, it is highly suspicious and warrants immediate investigation.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\node.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'node.exe'
    - Product: 'Node.js'
selection_cmd:
    CommandLine|contains: '.js'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate use of node.exe to execute JavaScript or JSC files on your environment

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.t1059.007

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1059.007

References

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/04/15/threat-actors-misuse-node-js-to-deliver-malware-and-other-malicious-payloads/

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/process_creation/proc_creation_win_security_susp_node_js_execution.yml