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Windows Process Command Lines Using System32/SysWow64 Tasks Folder

Alerts on process command lines referencing the writable System32/SysWow64 Tasks folders with common file staging/copy primitives.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Sreeman (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-01-13
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events where the command line references the globally writable Tasks directories in C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\ or C:\Windows\SysWow64\Tasks\ and also includes command-line actions commonly used for file creation or copying (e.g., echo, copy, type, file createnew). Such activity matters because attackers may use writable task-related paths to stage or influence scripts and executables that later get run by common Windows script or component utilities. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and command-line content matching those specific directory and command substrings.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Command Lines Using System32/SysWow64 Tasks Folder
Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

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