Schtasks.exe

Commands

1. ExecuteUser T1053.005

   Create a recurring task to keep reverse shell session(s) alive

   schtasks /create /sc minute /mo 1 /tn "Reverse shell" /tr "{CMD}"

   Create a recurring task to execute every minute.

   os: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

   Execute: CMD

2. ExecuteAdministrator T1053.005

   Create a remote task to run daily relative to the the time of creation

   schtasks /create /s targetmachine /tn "MyTask" /tr "{CMD}" /sc daily

   Create a scheduled task on a remote computer for persistence/lateral movement

   os: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

   Execute: CMD

Detection

• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_schtasks_creation.yml
• Elastic https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/ef7548f04c4341e0d1a172810330d59453f46a21/rules/windows/persistence_local_scheduled_task_creation.toml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/18f63553a9dc1a34122fa123deae2b2f9b9ea391/detections/endpoint/schtasks_scheduling_job_on_remote_system.yml
• IOCSuspicious task creation events

Resources

• https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Adding+Persistence+Via+Scheduled+Tasks/23633/