PDF_LAUNCH_MSHTA — /Launch action targets mshta.exe (LOLBIN)

critical PDF_LAUNCH_MSHTA

What it means

PDF /Launch action whose /F parameter explicitly names mshta.

Why it fires

Mshta is the Microsoft HTML Application host and a documented LOLBIN. Modern PDF launcher campaigns prefer it because mshta accepts a `javascript:` URL as its /P parameter, which executes inline JScript without requiring a dropper file on disk. The PDF /Launch carrier plus an mshta target is the unambiguous shape of MITRE ATT&CK T1218.005.

Other PDF heuristics

PDF_LAUNCH_JS_PROTOCOL PDF_LAUNCH_COMMAND PDF_ADOBE_QR_UNLOCK_LURE PDF_JS_URL_KEYED_READER_EXPLOIT_KIT CVE_2009_2990_U3D_AUTOACTIVATE PDF_ANNOT_AUTHOR_EVAL_STAGER PDF_ANNOT_SUBJECT_HEX_EVAL_STAGER PDF_ANNOT_SUBJECT_MARKER_EVAL_STAGER PDF_JS_BASE_N_TOKEN_DOWNLOADER PDF_BASE64_PE_PAYLOAD PDF_BRAND_INVOICE_LURE_OFFDOMAIN PDF_BRAND_INVOICE_CLOUD_EMAIL_LURE PDF_CORPORATE_PRESENTATION_CLOUD_REDIRECT_LURE PDF_CORRUPTED_FILE_UPDATE_LURE PDF_CRACKED_SOFTWARE_SHORTLINK_LURE PDF_GAME_HACK_SEO_LINK_FARM PDF_DISTRIBUTED_PIRACY_LINK_FARM PDF_DOCUSIGN_DOWNLOAD_LURE PDF_DOCUMENT_ACTION_HOST_MISMATCH_LURE PDF_DYNAMIC_DNS_DOCUMENT_LINK_FARM PDF_SWF_NATIVE_MEMORY_CORRUPTION_PAYLOAD PDF_EMBEDDED_PE_PAYLOAD CVE_2010_1240_EMBEDDED_EXPORT_LAUNCH CVE_2021_30860