type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--005a06c6-14bf-4118-afa0-ebcd8aebb0c9
created: 2019-11-27T14:58:00.429Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005
external_id: T1053.005
source_name: ProofPoint Serpent
description: Campbell, B. et al. (2022, March 21). Serpent, No Swiping! New Backdoor Targets French Entities with Unique Attack Chain. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/serpent-no-swiping-new-backdoor-targets-french-entities-unique-attack-chain
source_name: Defending Against Scheduled Task Attacks in Windows Environments
description: Harshal Tupsamudre. (2022, June 20). Defending Against Scheduled Tasks. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
url: https://blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2022/06/20/defending-against-scheduled-task-attacks-in-windows-environments
source_name: Twitter Leoloobeek Scheduled Task
description: Loobeek, L. (2017, December 8). leoloobeek Status. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
url: https://x.com/leoloobeek/status/939248813465853953
source_name: Tarrask scheduled task
description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence Team & Detection and Response Team . (2022, April 12). Tarrask malware uses scheduled tasks for defense evasion. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
url: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/04/12/tarrask-malware-uses-scheduled-tasks-for-defense-evasion/
source_name: Microsoft Scheduled Task Events Win10
description: Microsoft. (2017, May 28). Audit Other Object Access Events. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/audit-other-object-access-events
source_name: TechNet Scheduled Task Events
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). General Task Registration. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
url: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd315590.aspx
source_name: Red Canary - Atomic Red Team
description: Red Canary - Atomic Red Team. (n.d.). T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
url: https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1053.005/T1053.005.md
source_name: TechNet Autoruns
description: Russinovich, M. (2016, January 4). Autoruns for Windows v13.51. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902
source_name: TechNet Forum Scheduled Task Operational Setting
description: Satyajit321. (2015, November 3). Scheduled Tasks History Retention settings. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
url: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/e5bca729-52e7-4fcb-ba12-3225c564674c/scheduled-tasks-history-retention-settings?forum=winserver8gen
source_name: SigmaHQ
description: Sittikorn S. (2022, April 15). Removal Of SD Value to Hide Schedule Task - Registry. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
url: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_delete/registry_delete_schtasks_hide_task_via_sd_value_removal.yml
source_name: Stack Overflow
description: Stack Overflow. (n.d.). How to find the location of the Scheduled Tasks folder. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2913816/how-to-find-the-location-of-the-scheduled-tasks-folder
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:19.176Z
name: Scheduled Task
description: Adversaries may abuse the Windows Task Scheduler to perform task scheduling for initial or recurring execution of malicious code. There are multiple ways to access the Task Scheduler in Windows. The [schtasks](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0111) utility can be run directly on the command line, or the Task Scheduler can be opened through the GUI within the Administrator Tools section of the Control Panel.(Citation: Stack Overflow) In some cases, adversaries have used a .NET wrapper for the Windows Task Scheduler, and alternatively, adversaries have used the Windows netapi32 library and [Windows Management Instrumentation](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1047) (WMI) to create a scheduled task. Adversaries may also utilize the Powershell Cmdlet `Invoke-CimMethod`, which leverages WMI class `PS_ScheduledTask` to create a scheduled task via an XML path.(Citation: Red Canary - Atomic Red Team)

An adversary may use Windows Task Scheduler to execute programs at system startup or on a scheduled basis for persistence. The Windows Task Scheduler can also be abused to conduct remote Execution as part of Lateral Movement and/or to run a process under the context of a specified account (such as SYSTEM). Similar to [System Binary Proxy Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218), adversaries have also abused the Windows Task Scheduler to potentially mask one-time execution under signed/trusted system processes.(Citation: ProofPoint Serpent)

Adversaries may also create "hidden" scheduled tasks (i.e. [Hide Artifacts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564)) that may not be visible to defender tools and manual queries used to enumerate tasks. Specifically, an adversary may hide a task from `schtasks /query` and the Task Scheduler by deleting the associated Security Descriptor (SD) registry value (where deletion of this value must be completed using SYSTEM permissions).(Citation: SigmaHQ)(Citation: Tarrask scheduled task) Adversaries may also employ alternate methods to hide tasks, such as altering the metadata (e.g., `Index` value) within associated registry keys.(Citation: Defending Against Scheduled Task Attacks in Windows Environments) 
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: execution
kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: persistence
kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: privilege-escalation
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.3.0
x_mitre_contributors: Andrew Northern, @ex_raritas
Bryan Campbell, @bry_campbell
Selena Larson, @selenalarson
Sittikorn Sangrattanapitak
Zachary Abzug, @ZackDoesML
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.8
x_mitre_remote_support: no