H3XAOperational intelligence
Live analytical pictureEvidence before assessment
TypeTechnique
External ID—
First seen2026-08-14
Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

Adversaries may abuse various implementations of JavaScript for execution. JavaScript (JS) is a platform-independent scripting language (compiled just-in-time at runtime) commonly associated with scripts in webpages, though JS can be executed in runtime environments outside the browser.(Citation: NodeJS) JScript is the Microsoft implementation of the same scripting standard. JScript is interpreted via the Windows Script engine and thus integrated with many components of Windows such as the [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001) and Internet Explorer HTML Application (HTA) pages.(Citation: JScrip May 2018)(Citation: Microsoft JScript 2007)(Citation: Microsoft Windows Scripts) JavaScript for Automation (JXA) is a macOS scripting language based on JavaScript, included as part of Apple’s Open Scripting Architecture (OSA), that was introduced in OSX 10.10. Apple’s OSA provides scripting capabilities to control applications, interface with the operating system, and bridge access into the rest of Apple’s internal APIs. As of OSX 10.10, OSA only supports two languages, JXA and [AppleScript](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/002). Scripts can be executed via the command line utility osascript , they can be compiled into applications or script files via osacompile , and they can be compiled and executed in memory of other programs by leveraging the OSAKit Framework.(Citation: Apple About Mac Scripting 2016)(Citation: SpecterOps JXA 2020)(Citation: SentinelOne macOS Red Team)(Citation: Red Canary Silver Sparrow Feb2021)(Citation: MDSec macOS JXA and VSCode) Adversaries may abuse various implementations of JavaScript to execute various behaviors. Common uses include hosting malicious scripts on websites as part of a [Drive-by Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189) or downloading and executing these script files as secondary payloads. Since these payloads are text-based, it is also very common for adversaries to obfuscate their content as part of [Obfuscated Files or Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027).

80 recorded

Relationships

mitigatesMitigation
mitigatesMitigation
mitigatesMitigation
mitigatesMitigation
subtechnique-ofTechnique
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from Donut
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from Evilnum
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from FIN6
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from Higaisa
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from jRAT
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from Kali365
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from Kimsuky
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from KONNI
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usesGroup
usesGroup
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usesCampaign
usesMalware
uses
from QakBot
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uses
from Remcos
Tool
usesGroup
usesMalware
usesGroup
usesGroup
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from Silence
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usesMalware
usesMalware
usesGroup
usesMalware
uses
from TA505
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from TA577
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from TA578
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from TeamPCP
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from Turla
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from Valak
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usesGroup
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from Xbash
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10 external

References

mitre-attack
T1059.007
open
Apple About Mac Scripting 2016
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/MacAutomationScriptingGuide/index.html
open
MDSec macOS JXA and VSCode
https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2021/01/macos-post-exploitation-shenanigans-with-vscode-extensions/
open
Microsoft JScript 2007
https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/gauravseth/the-world-of-jscript-javascript-ecmascript
open
Microsoft Windows Scripts
https://docs.microsoft.com/scripting/winscript/windows-script-interfaces
open
JScrip May 2018
https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/com/translating-to-jscript
open
NodeJS
https://nodejs.org/
open
SentinelOne macOS Red Team
https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/macos-red-team-calling-apple-apis-without-building-binaries/
open
SpecterOps JXA 2020
https://posts.specterops.io/persistent-jxa-66e1c3cd1cf5
open
Red Canary Silver Sparrow Feb2021
https://redcanary.com/blog/clipping-silver-sparrows-wings/
open