What is HTA?

HTML Application (HTA) is a Microsoft Windows program whose source code consists of HTML, Dynamic HTML, or XHTML. It is executed as an application by the Microsoft HTML Application Host (mshta.exe), outside the security constraints of the Internet Explorer browser. HTAs have full system access and are thus more powerful than normal HTML pages. They are often used for system administration tasks and can be exploited for malicious purposes if not handled carefully.