Renamed Automation Script Interpreter

Last updated 7 days ago on 2025-09-01
Created 5 years ago on 2020-09-01

About

Identifies renamed Automation Script Interpreter process. Malware written as an AutoIt/AutoHotKey script tends to rename the main executable to avoid detection.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: CrowdstrikeLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
winlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

m365_defender(opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
  (
   (process.pe.original_file_name : "AutoIt*.exe" and not process.name : "AutoIt*.exe") or
   (process.pe.original_file_name == "AutoHotkey.exe" and not process.name : ("AutoHotkey*.exe", "InternalAHK.exe")) or
   (process.pe.original_file_name == "KIX32.EXE" and not process.name : "KIX*.exe" and process.executable : ("?:\\Users\\*.exe", "?:\\ProgramData\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Users\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\ProgramData\\*.exe"))
   )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Renamed Automation Script Interpreter in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(opens in a new tab or window).