Suspicious macOS Persistence via launchctl submit (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Priv Esc
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects use of the legacy launchctl submit subcommand to register a background job for persistence. The JINX-0164 threat actor abused this mechanism to launch an implant under a masqueraded job label such as chrome.job. This technique lets attackers run code on login while blending in with legitimate agent labels.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1543.001 — drag to rearrange

LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon Persistence File Creation on macOS (via file_event)

Suspicious Persistence Load via Launchctl (via process_creation)

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Malicious Mini Shai-Hulud gh-token-monitor Persistence Service (via file_event)

Suspicious LaunchAgent Masquerading as coreaudiod (via file_event)

Suspicious LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon Load via launchctl

Suspicious macOS LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon Plist Creation

Suspicious macOS Trojan-Proxy LaunchAgent GoogleHelperUpdater Persistence (via file_event)

Malicious macOS LaunchAgent Persistence com.nvm.protocal.plist

Suspicious macOS Persistence via launchctl submit (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1543.001 · 9 related

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

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