Techniques › T1216 › AN1288
AN1288 Analytic 1288
Windows · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
<p>Execution of Microsoft-signed scripts (e.g., pubprn.vbs, installutil.exe, wscript.exe, cscript.exe) used to proxy execution of untrusted or external binaries. Behavior is detected through command-line process lineage, child process spawning, and unsigned payload execution from signed parent.</p>
- Detects
- T1216 System Script Proxy Execution
- Part of
- DET0466 Detection of Script-Based Proxy Execution via Signed Microsoft Utilities
Log sources and channels
Exactly as MITRE states them in x_mitre_log_source_references. Where a channel is vague, it is vague in the source; kevmap does not tidy it.
| Log source | Channel | Data component |
|---|---|---|
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=1 | DC0032 Process Creation |
| WinEventLog:PowerShell | EventCode=4103, 4104, 4105, 4106 | DC0064 Command Execution |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=7 | DC0016 Module Load |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=10 | DC0035 Process Access |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=11 | DC0039 File Creation |
Mutable elements
Parameters MITRE marks as environment-specific. These are the knobs you are expected to tune; they are why an analytic is not a rule.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
ParentProcessName | Environment-specific paths to script interpreters like wscript.exe, cscript.exe, pubprn.vbs, or installutil.exe. |
TimeWindow | Time delta between signed script execution and suspicious child process creation. |
ChildCommandLineRegex | Regex pattern used to detect malicious payload execution (e.g., download cradle, PowerShell decode). |
SignedToUnsignedTransition | Indicates whether the parent is signed by Microsoft but child is unsigned or unknown. |