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Every technique
T1059.011Detection written

Lua

ExecutionLinux, Network Devices, Windows, macOS

Where this stands

One published detection covers this technique. Every one is unverified — no rule on Siemphony has been executed against real telemetry.

What the technique is

Adversaries may abuse Lua commands and scripts for execution. Lua is a cross-platform scripting and programming language primarily designed for embedded use in applications. Lua can be executed on the command-line (through the stand-alone lua interpreter), via scripts (.lua), or from Lua-embedded programs (through the struct lua_State). Lua scripts may be executed by adversaries for malicious purposes. Adversaries may incorporate, abuse, or replace existing Lua interpreters to allow for malicious Lua command execution at runtime.

Read it on attack.mitre.org

What MITRE says you would watch

  • AN0278

    Detects execution of Lua interpreters or scripts (.lua), especially when correlated with suspicious parent processes or file drop events, indicating malicious use of embedded scripting.

  • AN0279

    Detects invocation of lua or luajit interpreters by users or services outside of expected packages, chained with script drop or memory artifacts.

  • AN0280

    Detects Lua script execution via native or 3rd party interpreters, chained with unsigned binaries or unexpected parent lineage.

Technique names and descriptions © MITRE ATT&CK®, CC BY 4.0. Not endorsed by MITRE.