Startup Item File Created - MacOS
Detects the creation of a startup item plist file, that automatically get executed at boot initialization to establish persistence. Adversaries may use startup items automatically executed at boot initialization to…
Description
Detects the creation of a startup item plist file, that automatically get executed at boot initialization to establish persistence. Adversaries may use startup items automatically executed at boot initialization to establish persistence. Startup items execute during the final phase of the boot process and contain shell scripts or other executable files along with configuration information used by the system to determine the execution order for all startup items.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- macOS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source product
- macos
- Log source category
- file_event
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate administration activities
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Chapters/StartupItems.html | Only this detection cites it |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1037.005/T1037.005.md | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- dfe8b941-4e54-4242-b674-6b613d521962
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.persistenceattack.privilege-escalation
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1