sigmahighHunting

Disable Important Scheduled Task

Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by disabling their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities

MITRE ATT&CK

T1489

impact

Detection Query

selection:
  Image|endswith: \schtasks.exe
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - /Change
    - /TN
    - /disable
  CommandLine|contains:
    - \Windows\BitLocker
    - \Windows\ExploitGuard
    - \Windows\ExploitGuard\ExploitGuard MDM policy Refresh
    - \Windows\SystemRestore\SR
    - \Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\
    - \Windows\Windows Defender\
    - \Windows\WindowsBackup\
    - \Windows\WindowsUpdate\
condition: selection

Author

frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), X__Junior

Created

2021-12-26

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.impactattack.t1489

Raw Content

title: Disable Important Scheduled Task
id: 9ac94dc8-9042-493c-ba45-3b5e7c86b980
related:
    - id: 7595ba94-cf3b-4471-aa03-4f6baa9e5fad # Security-Audting Eventlog
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by disabling their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1490/T1490.md#atomic-test-8---windows---disable-the-sr-scheduled-task
    - https://twitter.com/MichalKoczwara/status/1553634816016498688
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/10/18/icedid-to-xinglocker-ransomware-in-24-hours/
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), X__Junior
date: 2021-12-26
modified: 2024-08-25
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1489
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/Change'
            - '/TN'
            - '/disable'
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Add more important tasks
            - '\Windows\BitLocker'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard\ExploitGuard MDM policy Refresh'
            - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
            - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\'
            - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high