Detection: WinEvent Scheduled Task Created Within Public Path

Updated Date: 2024-09-30 ID: 5d9c6eee-988c-11eb-8253-acde48001122 Author: Michael Haag, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects the creation of scheduled tasks within user-writable paths using Windows Security EventCode 4698. It identifies tasks registered via schtasks.exe or TaskService that execute commands from directories like Public, ProgramData, Temp, and AppData. This behavior is significant as it may indicate an attempt to establish persistence or execute unauthorized commands. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could maintain long-term access, escalate privileges, or execute arbitrary code, posing a severe threat to system integrity and security.

1`wineventlog_security` EventCode=4698 TaskContent IN ("*\\users\\public\\*", "*\\programdata\\*", "*\\temp\\*", "*\\Windows\\Tasks\\*", "*\\appdata\\*", "*\\perflogs\\*") 
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Computer, TaskName, TaskContent 
3|  rename Computer as dest 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `winevent_scheduled_task_created_within_public_path_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Windows Event Log Security 4698 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Security'

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_ctime convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)
winevent_scheduled_task_created_within_public_path_filter search *
winevent_scheduled_task_created_within_public_path_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1053.005 Scheduled Task Execution
T1053 Scheduled Task/Job Persistence
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
KillChainPhase.INSTALLATION
NistCategory.DE_CM
Cis18Value.CIS_10
APT-C-36
APT29
APT3
APT32
APT33
APT37
APT38
APT39
APT41
BITTER
BRONZE BUTLER
Blue Mockingbird
Chimera
Cobalt Group
Confucius
Daggerfly
Dragonfly
Ember Bear
FIN10
FIN13
FIN6
FIN7
FIN8
Fox Kitten
GALLIUM
Gamaredon Group
HEXANE
Higaisa
Kimsuky
Lazarus Group
LuminousMoth
Machete
Magic Hound
Molerats
Moonstone Sleet
MuddyWater
Mustang Panda
Naikon
OilRig
Patchwork
Rancor
RedCurl
Sandworm Team
Silence
Stealth Falcon
TA2541
ToddyCat
Winter Vivern
Wizard Spider
menuPass
Earth Lusca

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Notable Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 4698 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA is also required.

Known False Positives

False positives are possible if legitimate applications are allowed to register tasks in public paths. Filter as needed based on paths that are used legitimately.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
A windows scheduled task was created (task name=$TaskName$) on $dest$ 70 70 100
The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Security XmlWinEventLog
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Security XmlWinEventLog

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 5