Sigma rule: Powershell Create Scheduled Task

Rule

Title

Powershell Create Scheduled Task

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

frack113

Date

2021-12-28

Modified

2025-10-07

File

rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_cmdlet_scheduled_task.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Adversaries may abuse the Windows Task Scheduler to perform task scheduling for initial or recurring execution of malicious code

Log source

product

windows

category

ps_script

definition

Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled

Detection

selection_cmdlet:
    ScriptBlockText|contains:
        - 'New-ScheduledTaskAction'
        - 'New-ScheduledTaskTrigger'
        - 'New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal'
        - 'New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet'
        - 'New-ScheduledTask'
        - 'Register-ScheduledTask'
selection_cimmethod:
    ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
        - 'Invoke-CimMethod'
        - '-ClassName'
        - 'PS_ScheduledTask'
        - '-NameSpace'
        - 'Root\Microsoft\Windows\TaskScheduler'
filter_main_legitimate_scripts:
    ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
        - 'Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Export-ModuleMember'
        - 'Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance'
        - '__cmdletization_methodParameter'
condition: 1 of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.execution
• attack.persistence
• attack.t1053.005

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1053.005

References

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1053.005/T1053.005.md#atomic-test-4---powershell-cmdlet-scheduled-task
• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1053.005/T1053.005.md#atomic-test-6---wmi-invoke-cimmethod-scheduled-task

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_script/posh_ps_cmdlet_scheduled_task.yml