Suspicious Scheduled Task Running pythonw From AppData via COLDRIVER

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-10-12
Updated
2026-10-12

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 that launches pythonw.exe from a Python38-64 directory under AppData as used by COLDRIVER to persist a health check backdoor. Attackers use this to maintain a stealthy Python based foothold masquerading as a system maintenance job.

Related detections9 linkedT1053.005 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Scheduled Task Named Sumatra Launcher by UNC2970 (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Enumeration for User_Feed_Sync via PowerShell (via ps_script)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Masquerading as Apple Sync via schtasks
Suspicious Scheduled Task Masquerading as Windows Color Calibration via schtasks
Malicious Kimsuky Scheduled Task Persistence via ChromeCheck and EdgeCheck (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Persistence Running a Batch File at Logon
Malicious Scheduled Task Masquerading as VLC or Adobe Update
Suspicious Scheduled Task for Nightly Wake and Shutdown Automation
Suspicious Scheduled Task Running Regsvr32 with Extreme Duration by StaryDobry
Suspicious Scheduled Task Running pythonw From AppData via COLDRIVER
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.