Suspicious Scheduled Task Masquerading As System Process

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Persistence
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Priv Esc
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects schtasks creating a task named after a core Windows process such as winlogon csrss or dllhost. The PowerRAT and DCRAT campaign registered scheduled tasks impersonating winlogon csrss and dllhost triggered at logon or on a minute interval. Naming a scheduled task after a trusted system process combines persistence with masquerading to evade casual task review.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Scheduled Task Masquerading As System Process

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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