Sigma rule: Launch Agent/Daemon Execution Via Launchctl

Rule

Title

Launch Agent/Daemon Execution Via Launchctl

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Pratinav Chandra

Date

2024-05-13

File

rules/macos/process_creation/proc_creation_macos_launchctl_execution.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the execution of programs as Launch Agents or Launch Daemons using launchctl on macOS.

Log source

product

macos

category

process_creation

Detection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '/launchctl'
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'submit'
        - 'load'
        - 'start'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate administration activities is expected to trigger false positives. Investigate the command line being passed to determine if the service or launch agent are suspicious.

Tags

• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.execution
• attack.persistence
• attack.t1569.001
• attack.t1543.001
• attack.t1543.004

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1543.001
• T1543.004
• T1569.001

References

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1569.001/T1569.001.md
• https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/20-common-tools-techniques-used-by-macos-threat-actors-malware/
• https://www.welivesecurity.com/2020/07/16/mac-cryptocurrency-trading-application-rebranded-bundled-malware/
• https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/18/d/new-macos-backdoor-linked-to-oceanlotus-found.html
• https://www.loobins.io/binaries/launchctl/

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