Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation via Masqueraded XML File
Detects the creation of a scheduled task using the "-XML" flag with a file without the '.xml' extension. This behavior could be indicative of potential defense evasion attempt during persistence
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source product
- windows
- Log source category
- process_creation
Known benign triggers
- Unknown
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 |
|---|---|
| github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts/blob/084067123d3328a823b1c3fdde305b694275c794/behavior/rules/persistence_suspicious_scheduled_task_creation_via_masqueraded_xml_file.toml | Only this detection cites it |
| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/taskschd/daily-trigger-example--xml- | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- dd2a821e-3b07-4d3b-a9ac-929fe4c6ca0c
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.executionattack.persistenceattack.privilege-escalationattack.stealth
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1