sigmahighHunting

Suspicious ClickFix/FileFix Execution Pattern

Detects suspicious execution patterns where users are tricked into running malicious commands via clipboard manipulation, either through the Windows Run dialog (ClickFix) or File Explorer address bar (FileFix). Attackers leverage social engineering campaigns—such as fake CAPTCHA challenges or urgent alerts—encouraging victims to paste clipboard contents, often executing mshta.exe, powershell.exe, or similar commands to infect systems.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1204.001 T1204.004

execution

Detection Query

selection_parent:
  ParentImage|endswith: \explorer.exe
  CommandLine|contains: "#"
selection_cli_captcha:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - account
    - anti-bot
    - botcheck
    - captcha
    - challenge
    - confirmation
    - fraud
    - human
    - identification
    - identificator
    - identity
    - robot
    - validation
    - verification
    - verify
condition: all of selection_*

Author

montysecurity, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)

Created

2025-11-19

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1204.001attack.t1204.004

Raw Content

title: Suspicious ClickFix/FileFix Execution Pattern
id: d487ed4a-fd24-436d-a0b2-f4e95f7b2635
related:
    - id: f5fe36cf-f1ec-4c23-903d-09a3110f6bbb
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects suspicious execution patterns where users are tricked into running malicious commands via clipboard manipulation, either through the Windows Run dialog (ClickFix) or File Explorer address bar (FileFix).
    Attackers leverage social engineering campaigns—such as fake CAPTCHA challenges or urgent alerts—encouraging victims to paste clipboard contents, often executing mshta.exe, powershell.exe, or similar commands to infect systems.
references:
    - https://github.com/JohnHammond/recaptcha-phish
    - https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/deepseek-lure-using-captchas-spread-malware
    - https://www.threatdown.com/blog/clipboard-hijacker-tries-to-install-a-trojan/
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/5c16b4db-4b36-4039-a0ed-9b09abff8be2
    - https://www.esentire.com/security-advisories/netsupport-rat-clickfix-distribution
    - https://www.scpx.com.au/2025/11/16/decades-old-finger-protocol-abused-in-clickfix-malware-attacks/ # filefix variant
author: montysecurity, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-11-19
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1204.001
    - attack.t1204.004
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\explorer.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '#'
    selection_cli_captcha:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'account'
            - 'anti-bot'
            - 'botcheck'
            - 'captcha'
            - 'challenge'
            - 'confirmation'
            - 'fraud'
            - 'human'
            - 'identification'
            - 'identificator'
            - 'identity'
            - 'robot'
            - 'validation'
            - 'verification'
            - 'verify'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high