Suspicious PowMix Scheduled Task Launching LNK via Explorer

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
- T1204.002Malicious File
Persistence
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Priv Esc
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of a scheduled task that runs explorer.exe against a shortcut file, matching the PowMix botnet persistence that fires a daily task at 11:00 to relaunch its malicious LNK through Explorer. Abusing explorer.exe to open an attacker LNK on a schedule masks the loader chain as ordinary shell activity. This persistence pattern indicates a PowMix foothold on the host.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious PowMix Scheduled Task Launching LNK via Explorer

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.

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