Suspicious Schtasks Schedule Type With High Privileges (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Schtasks Schedule Type With High Privileges (via process_creation)
id: da1244b3-b964-52a5-9746-671b00c3edb2
status: stable
description: This rule detects scheduled task creations or modification to be run with high privileges on an anomalous schedule type
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks-change
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks-create
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-12
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1053.005
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'schtasks.exe'
    selection_time:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' ONLOGON '
            - ' ONSTART '
            - ' ONCE '
            - ' ONIDLE '
    selection_privs:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'NT AUT'
            - ' SYSTEM'
            - 'HIGHEST'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium