Suspicious Launch Agent/Daemon Execution Through Launchctl (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Launch Agent/Daemon Execution Through Launchctl (via process_creation)
id: 88e00a95-31fe-5ec2-b429-3e12d164c92f
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of programs as Launch Agents or Launch Daemons using launchctl on macOS.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/004/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/001/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/001/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1569.001/T1569.001.md
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/20-common-tools-techniques-used-by-macos-threat-actors-malware/
    - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2020/07/16/mac-cryptocurrency-trading-application-rebranded-bundled-malware/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/18/d/new-macos-backdoor-linked-to-oceanlotus-found.html
    - https://www.loobins.io/binaries/launchctl/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-29
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1569.001
    - attack.t1543.001
    - attack.t1543.004
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: macos
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/launchctl'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'submit'
            - 'load'
            - 'start'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium