windows enabled community medium v1.0.0

cscript

Binary used to execute scripts in Windows Located at: C:\Windows\System32\cscript.exe; C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cscript.exe.

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cscript
cscript

Sandbox: execFile · Timeout: 30s

Capabilities

system.file.alternate-data-stream

Contract

Outputs

process.output

Command execution output

Side effects: filesystem_write

Workflow Edges

Produces

process.output

Resource Profile

ResourceValue
CPUlow
Memory16 MB
Networklow
Disk I/Olow

Examples

Use cscript.exe to exectute a Visual Basic script stored in an Alternate Data Stream (ADS). (Can be used to evade defensive countermeasures or to hide as a persistence mechanism)

cscript //e:vbscript {PATH_ABSOLUTE}:script.vbs

Detection

TypeRule / Indicator
sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wscript_cscript_script_exec.yml
sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/6312dd1d44d309608552105c334948f793e89f48/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_net_cli_artefact.yml
elastic https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/61afb1c1c0c3f50637b1bb194f3e6fb09f476e50/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_dir_ads.toml
elastic https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/cc241c0b5ec590d76cb88ec638d3cc37f68b5d50/rules/windows/command_and_control_remote_file_copy_scripts.toml
elastic https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/82ec6ac1eeb62a1383792719a1943b551264ed16/rules/windows/defense_evasion_suspicious_managedcode_host_process.toml
splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/a1afa0fa605639cbef7d528dec46ce7c8112194a/detections/endpoint/wscript_or_cscript_suspicious_child_process.yml
blockrule https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-application-control/microsoft-recommended-block-rules
ioc Cscript.exe executing files from alternate data streams
ioc DotNet CLR libraries loaded into cscript.exe
ioc DotNet CLR Usage Log - cscript.exe.log

Documentation

cscript

cscript is a Windows LOLBin. Binary used to execute scripts in Windows Located at: C:\Windows\System32\cscript.exe; C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cscript.exe.

References