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

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Persistence
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Priv Esc
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Defense Evasion
- T1036.003Rename Legitimate Utilities
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
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.

windows-schtasks-execution-with-renamed-schtasks-exe-binary-f91e51c9

title: Windows Schtasks Execution with Renamed schtasks.exe Binary
id: 2179894d-58fa-461e-913d-9a61201f3014
status: experimental
description: 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.
references:
  - https://x.com/JangPr0/status/1932034543026065833
  - https://ss64.com/nt/schtasks.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_schtasks_execution.yml
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2025-11-27
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1036.003
  - attack.t1053.005
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_cmd_operation:
    CommandLine|contains|windash:
      - " /create "
      - " /delete "
      - " /query "
      - " /change "
      - " /run "
      - " /end "
  selection_cmd_flags:
    CommandLine|contains|windash:
      - " /tn "
      - " /tr "
      - " /sc "
      - " /st "
      - " /ru "
      - " /fo "
  selection_pe:
    OriginalFileName: schtasks.exe
  filter_main_cmd:
    CommandLine|contains: schtasks
  filter_main_img:
    Image|endswith: \schtasks.exe
  condition: (all of selection_cmd_* and not filter_main_cmd) or (selection_pe and not filter_main_img)
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: f91e51c9-f344-4b32-969b-0b6f6b8537d4
    type: derived

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