Cscriptexe

Cscriptexe is a term used in security contexts to describe an executable name that may be used to masquerade as the legitimate Windows Script Host engine, cscript.exe. It is not an official Microsoft product or component, and its appearance in logs or alerts typically signals a potential impersonation or malware scenario rather than a standard Windows feature.

Background context involves Windows Script Host, which provides runtimes for VBScript and JScript. The console-based host, cscript.exe, runs scripts from the command line, while wscript.exe is the GUI-oriented host. The genuine cscript.exe is located in system directories such as C:\Windows\System32\cscript.exe (and, on 64-bit systems, a corresponding copy in SysWOW64). The name cscriptexe is not a canonical Microsoft filename and may appear in security reports to indicate a suspicious or renamed variant.

Security implications include the possibility that an attacker renames or copies cscript.exe to cscriptexe.exe to evade simple checks, or creates files with similar names to deceive users or monitoring tools. Such files may be launched from nonstandard folders, via macros, or through scheduled tasks, and can be used to execute scripts that deliver payloads or download additional malware.

Detection and response focus on verification of legitimacy: check digital signatures (legitimate cscript.exe is signed by Microsoft), verify the file path, and compare file hashes with known-good versions. Use security tools to scan for malware, monitor for unusual network activity, and consider system file integrity checks. If cscriptexe is found in an unexpected location or without proper signing, treat it as suspicious and quarantine or remove it, restoring from a clean source if necessary.