sigmahighHunting

Delete Important Scheduled Task

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

MITRE ATT&CK

T1489

impact

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \schtasks.exe
  - OriginalFileName: schtasks.exe
selection_cli_delete:
  CommandLine|contains|windash: /delete
selection_cli_task:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - \Windows\BitLocker
    - \Windows\ExploitGuard
    - \Windows\SystemRestore\SR
    - \Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\
    - \Windows\Windows Defender\
    - \Windows\WindowsBackup\
    - \Windows\WindowsUpdate\
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2022-09-09

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Internal Research

Tags

attack.impactattack.t1489

Raw Content

title: Delete Important Scheduled Task
id: dbc1f800-0fe0-4bc0-9c66-292c2abe3f78
related:
    - id: 9e3cb244-bdb8-4632-8c90-6079c8f4f16d # TaskScheduler EventLog
      type: similar
    - id: 7595ba94-cf3b-4471-aa03-4f6baa9e5fad # Security-Audting Eventlog
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-09-09
modified: 2026-03-11
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1489
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'schtasks.exe'
    selection_cli_delete:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '/delete'
    selection_cli_task:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Add more important tasks
            - '\Windows\BitLocker'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
            - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
            - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\'
            - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_schtasks_delete/info.yml