Malicious EastWind Persistence via schtasks DRMserver Task

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-10-07
Updated
2026-10-07

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Priv Esc
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Defense Evasion

  5. Cred Access

  6. Discovery

  7. Lateral Movement

  8. Collection

  9. C2

  10. Exfiltration

  11. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of a scheduled task named DRMserver that launches WinDRMs.exe at system start with SYSTEM privileges. This behavior is used by the EastWind campaign deploying CloudSorcerer and related implants against Russian government organizations. Establishing a boot-persistent SYSTEM task lets the attacker maintain durable, high-privilege footholds which makes early detection important.

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Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation With RMMProject Loader Task Names
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Suspicious Scheduled Task Recovery Diagnostics Running PowerShell Script via process_creation
Suspicious Scheduled Task Application Maintenance Executing Core Payload
Malicious Scheduled Task Executing Binary from NETLOGON
Malicious EastWind Persistence via schtasks DRMserver Task
Pivot detection · T1053.005 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.