huntrule

Windows Schtasks Execution with Renamed schtasks.exe Binary

Alerts on scheduled task management commands that use a renamed schtasks.exe binary on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-11-27
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 process creation where schtasks functionality is invoked via command-line parameters commonly used for creating, modifying, deleting, querying, running, or ending scheduled tasks, but the executed binary name does not match the expected schtasks.exe path. Attackers often rename legitimate binaries to reduce the likelihood of security tooling detecting task scheduling activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the process Image/OriginalFileName and the CommandLine containing schtasks-related flags and operations.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Schtasks Execution with Renamed schtasks.exe Binary
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.