Scheduled Task Creation Via Schtasks.EXE

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects the creation of scheduled tasks by user accounts via the “schtasks” utility.

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Scheduled Task Creation Via Schtasks.EXE
id: 92626ddd-662c-49e3-ac59-f6535f12d189
status: test
description: Detects the creation of scheduled tasks by user accounts via the "schtasks" utility.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks-create
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2019-01-16
modified: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1053.005
    - attack.s0111
    - car.2013-08-001
    - stp.1u
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: ' /create '
    filter_main_system_user:
        User|contains: # covers many language settings
            - 'AUTHORI'
            - 'AUTORI'
    filter_optional_msoffice:
        #  schtasks.exe /Create /tn "Microsoft\Office\Office Performance Monitor" /XML "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ClickToRun\{9AC08E99-230B-47e8-9721-4577B7F124EA}\Microsoft_Office_Office Performance Monitor.xml"
        ParentImage:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\integration\integrator.exe'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\integration\integrator.exe'
        Image:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\schtasks.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'Microsoft\Office\Office Performance Monitor'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Administrative activity
    - Software installation
level: low

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where (TargetProcessName endswith "\\schtasks.exe" and TargetProcessCommandLine contains " /create ") and (not((TargetUsername contains "AUTHORI" or TargetUsername contains "AUTORI"))) and (not((((ParentProcessName in~ ("C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\root\\integration\\integrator.exe", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\root\\integration\\integrator.exe")) or (ActingProcessName in~ ("C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\root\\integration\\integrator.exe", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\root\\integration\\integrator.exe"))) and (TargetProcessName in~ ("C:\\Windows\\System32\\schtasks.exe", "C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\schtasks.exe")) and TargetProcessCommandLine contains "Microsoft\\Office\\Office Performance Monitor")))

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Administrative activity
• Software installation

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Execution
• Tactic: Persistence
• Tactic: Privilege Escalation
• Technique: T1053.005 — T1053.005

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks-create
• SigmaHQ Rule