huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Scheduled Task Creation via schtasks and wscript/vbscript

Alerts on Windows command lines that combine schtasks task creation with wscript running VBScript for persistence.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Andreas Hunkeler (@Karneades) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-02-07
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Priv Esc

  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 where the command line contains all of the following: "schtasks", "create", "wscript", and " /e:vbscript". Such activity is commonly used to establish persistence by creating scheduled tasks that execute VBScript through Windows Script Host. It relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the full command line of spawned processes, to match the expected parameter combination.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1053.005 — drag to rearrange
Windows Registry: New TaskCache entry created by unusual process image
Suspicious Scheduled Task Executing Rundll32 DLL Export by Ordinal
Suspicious Scheduled Task CacheTask Reconfigured to Run as SYSTEM
Malicious NodeSnake RAT Persistence via Scheduled Task and Node.js (via process_creation)
Malicious Scheduled Task Masquerading as Windows Defender Sync via schtasks (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation Launching mshta via schtasks (via process_creation)
Suspicious Service or Task Named windowsinspectionupdate (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation Referencing dllFake Batch Scripts (via process_creation)
Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation With WebDAV Loader Task Names (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: Scheduled Task Creation via schtasks and wscript/vbscript
Pivot detection · T1053.005 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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